DIALOGUE TO ORDER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2758, 12 March 1910, Page 1 (Supplement)

DIALOGUE TO ORDER.

(.By LESLIE THOMAS.)

“Fancy,” 1 exclaimed fervently, as we shoo!; hands—“fancy .meeting you suddenly, like this, after all tins time ; ••Funny, isn’t it?” she responded lazily. ••How have you been getting Oil ? ’ ’ . . I shook my head a trifle reproachfully. She caught my glance, and raised her eyebrows. ••You've snoilt the situation,” I explained. ‘-Don't you see there's romance in it?” ilhe looked penitent. . -‘Sorry! What ought I to have said? And is it necessary lor you to hold my fingers any more? ’ ■'Of course it is.” I returned rather disappointedly. ’"On these occasions one always does —’a second longer than convention decrees.’ Surely you must have read this kind of dialogue beiore? It’s the invariable rule.” iSlie smiled, and settled herself in her chair. "And then?’’ she queried. "I lease instruct me.” _ , "In reply to my first speech,” I said, •you should haA-e pouted, and murmured some comment about —well, about my rudeness in mentioning the number of years which elapsed since ’ • Let s start again.” she pleaded. I’ll try to do better. ‘All this time’ Avas my cue, I fancy. Here’s the pout. Now then! You infer, Mr. Calverley, that I don’t look so young as I used?” ••Not bad,” 1 admitted. “Rather clumsily put. but not bad. You’ll improve as you go on, perhaps. It has •coined a long Avliile, Dolly, away from you: and yet—” "Is it my turn ?” “The pause Avas intentional. And yet —you haven’t changed, as tar as outward appearance goes. - In face and figure you’re just the same. At least -■ ) "I know! Seven jiounds in two months! It's too bad! I’ve tried everything, really; but ”

I sighed. "Oh, dear! Of course, that’s all wrong.” ••I’ll overlook it,” I remarked, Avarningly, “this once. Have you ever thought, Dolly—no, that comes later on. You’ve made me forget how far we’ve got. I should have known you anywhere.”

She waited. “That’s right. Look down at the point of your slipper,” I prompted. ••_\ow say something about me.” “You’ve got stouter, too; and your hair—can’t v ou stop it, somehow? That new stuff ” “No, no!” I gasped. “I look older, and worn, and—and my forehead’s lined—something of that sort. If vou must mention my hair, it has a tinge of grey.” “I apologise, really I do! May 1 play, partner? I mean, is it my ” “Xo t vet! I wonder if you’ve ever —- ever thought of me? It was cruel of you to stop writing so suddenly.” “But i lost your address somehow. 1 wrote it on a bridge-scorer, you remember;- and next time we played, somebody—oh; am I doing badly?” “I didn’t think —how could i know you wished to hear from me? —something like that. And don’t forget to turn away so that your face is in shadow.” She turned. “How could I know, Hr. Calvorloy, that you wished to hear from me?” “Admirable!” I .said. “We’ll go on front there. All! I thought—-1 hoped' you’d understand. This is where I get ra-ther hitter, you know. Er—but I daresay you’ve practically forgotten m v existence. After all, what else could I expect? There were always plenty of other men to amuse you, and pay you compliments.” “Thank goodness! ’ ’ I ignored this. “Not that I’m blaming them, Dolly. 'ho could help admiring you? Now there’s silence for a moment or two. And I’m not the sort of chap a. girl would ever ” I glanced down at her gloved hands. “I daresay I' have to congratulate you and —and s ome more fascinating chap who’s been lucky enough to ” “I’m afraid I—l don’t quite understand,” she interrupted. “Bravo! that was quite good. I mean, v ou —you’re engaged?” “N-no.” “By Jove! you’re doing splendidly now. " Then there's still some chance — some hope? Protend to got up, and Til stop you.”

“1 think wo ought to be going back into the ballroom, Mr. Calverley.” “Excellent!” . , , She began to rise. I tone.fed hei arm. , . n , , “Don’t go, Dolly—not you. There s such a lot I want to say to you. -A.l tins time I’ve been away J ve looked forward to this moment. Stop cere a little Avliile. Go on ; sink back again. She sang. I leaned over her chair. ‘Do you remember, Dolly, evening when—l was going away? You said you were sorry, and you uoped I’d be: hack scon. You told mo there avas only one person you—you really liked, is it different now?” “There’s onlv one. person I—l really like.” “Dolly! No; I beg your pardon; it’s iny mistake. ’ I’m going too quickly. 1 have to imagine it’s someone else—some rival. lie’s a very lucky man, Dolly.” “He is; but I don’t know whether he realises it.” “Ah! but that’s impossible. _ If you —you liked anyone, he’d lie the happiest man in the Avorld. But perhaps you haven’t told him.” “I’m afraid I’ve hinted as much.” “And he’s been blind. He hasn’t guessed! Dolly, if I’d been that man —but of course, that—that’s impossible. Oli, I didn’t mean to reproach you. Just about here I’m very gloomy. See? I didn’t mean to reproach you. Eve no right to do that. I—l hope you’ll be very happy together. Dolly.” “Thanks. I’m sure Ave shall. K’sh ! give me a chance. It’s very good of you, Mr. Calverley.” \ She stood up, and fingered her far. nervously. I was just going to compliment her upon this when she spoke again. “And we’ll always be—be friends, won’t we? That is if you care to.” “I shall be honored, of course. 1 —l’d better go away again, though, J think. It Avould be wiser—safer —just for a time, until. Go on: ask me, why ?” “Is there any need for you to go, Mr Calverley?” I nodded approvingly. “Continue, noAv —Oh can't you understand ? Must I sa y any more. Men are ~o dense.” She repeated the phrases with emphasis. “That gives me my chance, you see. Dolly ! you don’t mean —you can't— Dolly, I —l love yon—have loved you eA-er since ” “Mr Calverley!” “AYe 11—er —I must finish up the column like that, you know. One always does. Now you throAv yourself into my arms, and finish the rest of your sentences —any sentences ’ll do —on my coat. Come along.” “But I don’t want to.” she o.Vi- ted. ‘Them you’ve spoilt the --.hole thing.” I said, shaking my hear). “Besides,” she added over her shoulder. as she moved away, “here'; my husband coming.”