Page:Carroll - Sylvie and Bruno Concluded.djvu/174

136 "If all gentlemen thought as badly of ladies as you do," my neighbour remarked with some bitterness, "there would be very fewvery few." She seemed doubtful how to end her sentence, but at last took "honeymoons" as a safe word.

"On the contrary," said Arthur, the mischievous smile returning to his face, "if only people would adopt my theory, the number of honeymoonsquite of a new kindwould be greatly increased!"

"May we hear about this new kind of honeymoon?" said Lady Muriel.

"Let $$X$$ be the gentleman," Arthur began, in a slightly raised voice, as he now found himself with an audience of six, including 'Mein Herr,' who was seated at the other side of my polynomial partner. "Let $$X$$ be the gentleman, and $$Y$$ the lady to whom he thinks of proposing. He applies for an Experimental Honeymoon. It is granted. Forthwith the young coupleaccompanied by the great-aunt of $$Y$$ to act as chaperonestart for a month's tour, during which they have many a moonlight-walk, and many a tête-a-tête conversation, and each can