"It's all right," he answered. "I've got four wishes, so I can always unwish one if it goes wrong."

Then he paused.

"I wish," he said, very slowly and distinctly, "that I may be irresistible to all women."

I burst out laughing.

"Good heavens," I said, "you've done it now! Think what will happen if you run up against a girls' school! What on earth made you wish that?"

An obstinate look came into Bruce's face.

"It's Cynthia," he said. "Cynthia West, you know. I want to marry her, and she won't give up the stage."

"Well, you needn't have indulged in quite such a sweeping demand," I protested.

Bruce looked a little ashamed.

"I thought I'd be on the safe side," he explained. "You see, I might get tired of Cynthia one day, and then it would save wasting a second wish."