"And you are, in yourself, exceedingly handsome."
"Which speaks well for God."
"Or the Devil," she amended.
"As you wish!" he said, laughingly, and kissed her hand.
"It is always, 'as you wish,' whereas, in truth, it is 'as I wish,' when the play is done."
"The play?" he asked.
"Yes, the play—everything which makes for your pleasure or profit. And you do it so gracefully, with such a flourish of indifference, that the other party actually thinks a favor is conferred in the granting it."
"Do you mean to imply that I have done the 'play' in Maryland?" he asked.
"Certainly!—you do 'the play' wherever you are—you could not do otherwise. It is as much a part of your nature as——" she paused for a comparison.
"As it is of yours," he ended.