"Then I shall expect you to remove that horrid black thing. It is positively villainous. You look much better without it."
"Is it an edict or a compliment?" he asked with such deep gravity that she flushed.
"It is neither," she answered. "You don't have to take it off unless you want to—"
"In either event, it is off. You were right. It serves as a partial disguise. I have many enemies and the black patch is a very good friend."
"How perfectly lovely," cried Beverly. "Tell me all about it. I adore stories about feuds and all that."
"Your husband is an American. He should be able to keep you well entertained with blood-and-thunder stories," said he.
"My hus—What do you—Oh, yes!" gasped Beverly. "To be sure. I didn't hear you, I guess. That was rather a severe clap of thunder, wasn't it?"
"Is that also a command?"
"What do you mean?"
"There was no thunderclap, you know."