'How so?' very innocently.
'Never mind now; go on.'
'You approve, so far?' enquired Rollo, with dangerous demureness in the wise gray eyes.
'O I have nothing to do with the matter,' said Hazel. 'It is your imagination that has slipped its bridle, and I am simply curious to see where it will bring up.'
'I don't know myself,' said Rollo. 'I am trying to fancy what the presents will be. Of course, since we ask the Senate and House of Representatives to the wedding, every man of them will send you a piece of plate; probably the majority of them will be teakettles. As I do not drink tea, it hardly concerns me much; but they will be very convenient for you. The arrangement of them for inspection is a matter of some difficulty;I would suggest a pyramidal scaffolding on which they might be all disposed with very striking effect; indeed if it were done cleverly I conceive it might be possible to give the impression of a solid pyramid of teakettles; which would be imposing. The Hall of Representatives would be a good place, I should think; allowing of an effective display of the bronze statuettes which will probably accompany the teakettles. Every giver's name, of course, is to be appended to his own piece of plate; so that it can be seen at a glance who has given most; and then with the income tax reports in your hand, you can see who ought to have given most. I think all New York would be there. Be a good thing for the railway companies!'
Wych Hazel laughed a little bit, but she was too shy of the subject and too conscious of hot cheeks, to enter upon it very freely.
'There is one thing you have forgotten,' she said. 'Your "ideal" is not complete, Mr. Rollo.'
'What do you suggest?'
'An ideal woman. I am waiting for that.'
'Did you think I was going to have a wedding without a bride?'