“May I have an ice instead of the tea, if I prefer it, Mr. Trenton?”
“Why, certainly. You see how I am already dropping into the American phraseology.”
“Oh, I think you are improving wonderfully, Mr. Trenton.”
When they reached the conservatory, Miss Sommerton said—
“This is really a very great breach of good manners on both your part and mine. I have taken away the lion of the evening, and the lion has forgotten his duty to his hostess and to the other guests.”
“Well, you see, I wanted to learn more of your ideas in the matter of dependencies. I don’t at all agree with you on that. Now, I think if a country is conquered, it ought to be a dependency of the conquering people. It is the right of conquest. I—I am a thorough believer in the right of conquest.”
“You seem to have very settled opinions on the matter, Mr. Trenton.”
“I have indeed, Miss Sommerton. It is said that an Englishman never knows when he is conquered. Now I think that is a great mistake. There is no one so quick as an Englishman to admit that he has met his match.”
“Why, have you met your match already, Mr. Trenton? Let me congratulate you.”
“Well, don’t congratulate me just yet. I am not at all certain whether I shall need any congratulations or not.”