38/44 You see I look young, and, what is more, I am young. I hear that women of society at thirty-eight are often faded and blase--what a pity it is that they do not understand the first laws of self-preservation! But to resume what I was saying, you know now that I am quite old enough in the eyes of the world to chaperon you or anybody. You had better arrange to stay here. The latter looked flushed and excited--Heliobas was calm and stately as usual. |