“I will ask you to lend it to me. Since Dale has been away I've had no one to make out my library list.”
“Do turn Adolphus out of that chair and sit down,” she said, sinking into her accustomed seat. Adolphus was the Chow dog before mentioned, an accomplished animal who could mount guard with the poker and stand on his head, and had been pleased to favour me with his friendship.
“I miss Dale greatly,” said I.
“I suppose you do. You are very fond of him?”
“Very,” said I. “By the by, how did you first come across Dale?”
She threw me a swift glance and smiled.
“Oh, in the most respectable way. I was dining at the Carlton with Sir Joshua Oldfield, the famous surgeon, you know. He performed a silly little operation on me last year, and since then we've been great friends. Dale and some sort of baby boy were dining there, too, and afterwards, in the lounge, Sir Joshua introduced them to me. Dale asked me if he could call. I said 'Yes.' Perhaps I was wrong. Anyhow, voila! Do you know Sir Joshua?”
“I sat next to him once at a public dinner. He's a friend of the Kynnersleys. A genial old soul.”
“He's a dear!” said Lola.
“Do you know many of Dale's friends?” I asked.