It's like looking up suddenly from some nocturnal _fete_--all Japanese lanterns and fireworks--and seeing the moon gazing down serenely and unseeingly upon one; it startles and sobers one a little, you know.' 'I suppose you are sober sometimes,' said Althea, continuing to smile.
'Lord, yes!' Gerald laughed.

'Really and truly, Miss Jakes, I'm only playing at being a child, you know.

I'm quite a serious person.

I like to look at the moon.' And again Althea blushed.

She looked down, sitting straightly in the corner of their sofa and turning her fan slowly between her fingers, and, feeling the sense of gracelessness in this too easy success, Gerald went on in a graver tone.