Page:Anthony Hope - The Dolly Dialogues.djvu/104

 'Thank you,' said I. 'And what sort of a looking person am I?'

Mrs. Hilary looked scornful. Miss Phyllis opened her eyes.

'How old do I look, Miss Phyllis?' I asked.

Miss Phyllis scanned me from top to toe.

'I don't know,' she said uncomfortably.

'Guess,' said I sternly.

'F-forty-three—oh, or forty-two?' she asked, with a timid upward glance.

'When you've done your nonsense' began Mrs. Hilary; but I laid a hand on her arm.

'Should you call me fat?' I asked.

'Oh, no, not fat,' said Mrs. Hilary, with a smile, which she strove to render reassuring.

'I am undoubtedly bald,' I observed.

'You're certainly bald,' said Mrs. Hilary, with regretful candour. I took my hat and remarked,—

'A man has a right to think of himself, but I am not thinking mainly of myself. I shall not come to lunch.'

'You said you would,' cried Mrs. Hilary indignantly.

I poised the letter in my hand, reading again, 'Miss M(aud) E(lizabeth) Bannerman.' Miss Phyllis looked at me curiously, Mrs. Hilary impatiently.

'Who knows,' said I, 'that I may not be a Romance—a Vanished Dream—a Green Memory—an Oasis? A person who has the fortune to be an Oasis, Miss Phyllis, should be very careful. I will not come to lunch.'