"I was deciding if to have my evening dress altered or not."
"You are never in want of an excuse for posturing before the glass. What does it matter at your time of life how your dress looks? Come to bed, and give me a chance to get to sleep."
Mrs. Day extinguished again the candles she had lit, and began docilely to unrobe herself. As she did so she talked.
"It all went off very well to-night, I think, William?"
"First-rate. Champagne-cup ran short."
"There should have been enough. The Barkers at their party never have champagne at all."
"When you're about it, do the thing well. What's a few pounds more here and there, when the end comes!"
"The end, William?"
"The end of the year. When the bills come in."
"How did you think Bessie looked to-night?"