"Did you never hear that?" asked Dolly, laughing. "It is from an unwritten and unpublished book—modern proverbs."
Simon Darche shook his head and smiled feebly.
"Dear me, dear me, I thought you were in earnest," he said.
"So he is," said Dolly. "We may have to get up at dawn sometimes, but we are far too much in earnest to go to bed early."
This was evidently beyond Simon Darche's comprehension and he relapsed into silence and the consumption of oysters. Mrs. Darche glanced reproachfully at Dolly as though to tell her that she should not chaff the old gentleman, and Vanbrugh came to the rescue.
"Do you often get up at dawn, Miss Maylands?" he inquired.
"Do I look as if I did?" retorted the young lady.
"How in the world should I know," asked Vanbrugh. "Do I look as though I associated with people who got up at dawn?"
Brett laughed.
"It always amuses me to hear you and Vanbrugh talk, Miss Maylands."