“Oh, why does one ever spend a single hour away from Riseholme?” she said.
“I wish you wouldn’t,” said Georgie. “But you go off to-morrow?”
“Yes, to Paris. My excuse is to meet my Georgie——”
“Here he is,” said Georgie.
“Yes, bless him. But the one who happens to be my husband. Georgie, I think I’m going to change my name and become what I really am, Mrs. George Shuttleworth. Why should singers and actresses call themselves Madame Macaroni or Signora Semolina? Yes, that’s my excuse, as I said when you interrupted me, and my reason is gowns. I’m going to have lots of new gowns.”
“Tell me about them,” said Georgie. He loved hearing about dress.
“I don’t know about them yet; I’m going to Paris to find out. Georgie, you’ll have to come and stay with me when I’m settled in London. And when I go to practise in Lucia’s music-room you shall play my accompaniments. And shall I be shingled?”
Georgie’s face was suddenly immersed in concentration.
“I wouldn’t mind betting——” he began.