“Ah, well, that will be better still,” said I.

“She’ll have forgotten your very name,” remarked Mrs. Hilary.

I opened the door, but a thought struck me. I turned round and observed:

“I dare say her hair’s just as soft as ever. Still—I’ll lunch some other day.”

[ [!-- H2 anchor --] ]

A VERY FINE DAY

“I see nothing whatever to laugh at,” said Mrs. Hilary coldly, when I had finished.

“I did not ask you to laugh,” I observed mildly. “I mentioned it merely as a typical case.”

“It’s not typical,” she said, and took up her embroidery. But a moment later she added:

“Poor boy! I’m not surprised.”