"Then it doesn't matter how I look now?" she commented, and paused. "How am I looking?"
"Well, and as dear as ever," he replied.
"That isn't what I wanted to know. You know it isn't."
"You are looking," he said, "just two evening moons older than when I saw you last."
"What have evening moons got to do with it?"
"They are your most becoming time."
She took the compliment with a sigh and a smile; then with an air of resignation sat down.
"Who is she?" she asked abruptly.
"I haven't a ghost of a notion. We haven't been properly introduced, she hasn't encouraged me, I haven't said a word, and I'm not to go near her any more."
This for a start. The Countess Hilda became deeply interested, and very much alarmed. "Then it isn't a princess?" she cried in consternation, "she isn't royalty?"