"Very. I don't think you—Oh, well, if you must have it, here it is. Last Monday I suddenly found myself reading carefully and with every sign of interest a little pamphlet on—LIFE INSURANCE!"
Miss Middleton looked at me quickly, smiled suddenly, and then became very grave.
"I appeared," I went on impressively, "to be thinking of insuring my life."
"Have you done it?"
"No, certainly not. I drew back in time. But it was a warning—it was the writing on the wall."
"Tell me some more," said Miss Middleton, after she had allowed this to sink in.
"Well, that was Monday afternoon. I told myself that in the afternoon one wasn't quite responsible, that sometimes one was only half awake. But on Tuesday morning I was horrified to discover myself—before breakfast—DOING DUMB-BELLS!"
"The smelling-salts—quick!" said Miss Middleton, as she closed her eyes.
"Doing dumb-bells. Ten lunges to the east, ten lunges to the west, ten lunges—"
"Were you reducing your figure?"