"Doris," he said, gravely, "never do that. You are only jesting, I know, dear, and this unhealthy style of life will soon be over for you. You exhaust your strength by over-doses of gayety and excitement. Do not fly to stimulants to restore it; you could not do anything more fatal."
She laughed.
"Of course I am jesting. This is a rest to sit here with you. Lord Vivianne tired me so dreadfully." She shuddered as with cold, and laid her head back on the chair. "How is it, Earle, that some people are so disagreeable and others so nice?"
Earle laughed, so happy to think that she called him nice.
"Which is Lord Vivianne?" he asked.
"Oh, disagreeable, you may be sure of that. See how he has tired me."
"But the world in general considers him a very agreeable man," said Earle.
"I do not. We will not talk of him. Say something very loving and very pleasant to me, Earle, that will send all tiresome thoughts out of my mind."
"You have no right with tiresome thoughts. What are they? Tell me them," he said.
She laughed, but the laugh was a sigh.