"Buntingford looks twice as old as he need!" said Geoffrey French, lighting a cigarette as he and Helena stepped out of the drawing-room window after dinner into the May world outside--a world which lay steeped in an after-glow of magical beauty.

"What's wrong, I wonder! Have you been plaguing him, Helena ?" The laughing shot was fired purely at random.
But the slight start and flush it produced in Helena struck him.
"I see nothing wrong with him," said Helena, a touch of defiance in her voice.

"But of course it's extraordinarily difficult to get on with him." "With Philip!--the jolliest, kindest chap going! What do you mean ?" "All right.

It's no good talking to anybody with a _parti pris_!" "No--but seriously, Helena--what's the matter?
Why, you told me you only began the new arrangement two days ago." "Exactly.

And there's been time already for a first-class quarrel.