Her sweet lips glowed at me as her dainty fingers poised the tiny trident before her lips. Jove, how I envied that jolly oyster! Then she smiled witchingly, teasingly.
"It wasn't because I didn't have an invitation," she responded archly. I knew! That beast, Scoggins!
"Umph;" grunted the frump, seated on the curve between us. "I verily believe Francis would go to anything!"
I scowled—couldn't help it, dash it! And Frances saw, and ducked her head, biting her lip and blushing. I could have choked the frump for so embarrassing her!
Yet the woman did try to be pleasant to me.
"Did you ever find a pearl in an oyster, Mr. Lightnut?" she asked.
"By Jove, no!" I said, staring at her for the fool question. For who could ever lose a pearl in a jolly oyster, don't you know? And yet, the next instant:
"I have!" said my darling, glancing up at me the oddest way.
"Have you, Frances?"—the frump faced her interestedly. "You should examine with a microscope the interstratifications of calcareous matter and animal membrane."
My beauty looked down at her plate.