"If you promise to send me a piece of the cake I'll let you have a piece of mine."
Mr. Bailey turned to his wife.
"To look at him you wouldn't think he was engaged, now, would you?"
"Why? Is there anything funny about the looks of a man when he's engaged?"
"Funny! I should think there is! Ely, what do you think? Don't you feel funny? You ought to if you don't."
"May I inquire, Mr. Bailey, what you mean?"
There was such a savage tone in Mr. Ely's voice that even the not quick-witted Mr. Bailey was struck by it.
"Hallo! What's up now? I say, Ash, you ought to tip a fellow the wink when a man's had an unfortunate misunderstanding with his best girl."
"Mr. Bailey--I beg Mrs. Bailey's pardon,--but I suppose that in the presence of a lady you take it for granted that you may permit yourself the utmost license of speech."
Mr. Bailey whistled, Mrs. Bailey laughed, then looked out of the window with a look of innocent surprise--that look of innocent surprise which means so much. Mr. Bailey nudged his wife with his elbow.