"Oh no; they live down in the country, a long way off--down in the West of England."
"And they're rich, I suppose?"
"Yes, they're very fairly off."
"And how many brothers and sisters have you, Paul?"
"None, darling; I am the only child; the entire hopes of the family are centred in this charming creature. Have you finished your questions, you inquisitive puss?"
"Quite. Did it sound inquisitive? I daresay it did; I daresay my foolish chatter was boring you."
"My pet Daisy, I'd sooner hear what you call your foolish chatter than anything in the world--much sooner than Tamberlik's ut de poitrine, that all the musical people are raving about just now. See, darling, let us sit down here. Take off your glove--this right glove. No? what nonsense! I may kiss your hand; there's no one looking but that fat child in the brown-holland knickerbockers, and if he doesn't turn his eyes away, I'll make a face at him, and frighten him into convulsions. There; now tell me about yourself."
"About myself? I've nothing to tell, Paul, except that we're horribly busy, and Madame plagues our lives out."
"Had you any difficulty in getting out to-day? You thought you would have when last I saw you."
"Dreadful difficulty; Madame fussed and fumed, and declared that she could not possibly let me go; but I insisted; and as the customers like me, and always ask for me, I suppose I am too valuable for her to say much."