"And now, my dear Madge," said he, when they were seated in a secluded corner of the lounge, "tell me all your news. In the first place, how's my own precious?"
"I am very well, thank you," replied the lady, a little coolly.
"Delighted to hear it!"
"You could, of course, have discovered it sooner by simply writing to inquire," she pointed out, with the same air.
"But I did, my dear girl, I did."
"Once."
"Only once, was it? Now, I could have sworn it was twice."
"And did you think twice was often enough?"
"Well, you see, Madge," he explained, "we got engaged in such a deuce of a hurry, and I had to rush off next morning, and so on. I didn't have time to ask you how often you wished me to write."