There was a long pause. Mrs. Hilary was looking into the fire;little Miss Phyllis's eyes were fixed, in rapt gaze, on the ceiling; Hilary was looking at his wife--I, thinking it safest, was regarding my own boots.
At last Miss Phyllis broke the silence.
"How perfectly lovely!" she said.
"Yes," said Mrs. Hilary, reflectively. "And we were married three months afterwards.""Tenth of June," said Hilary reflectively.
"And we had the most charming little rooms in the world! Do you remember those first rooms, dear? So tiny!""Not bad little rooms," said Hilary.
"How awfully lovely," cried little Miss Phyllis.
I felt that it was time to interfere.
"And is that all?" I asked.
"All? How do you mean?" said Mrs. Hilary, with a slight start.
"Well, I mean, did nothing else happen? Weren't there any complications? Weren't there any more troubles, or any more opposition, or any misunderstandings, or anything?""No," said Mrs. Hilary.
"You never quarreled, or broke it off?"
"No."
"Nobody came between you?"
"No. It all went just perfectly. Why, of course it did.""Hilary's people made themselves nasty, perhaps?" I suggested, with a ray of hope.
"They fell in love with her on the spot," said Hilary.
Then I rose and stood with my back to the fire.
"I do not know," I observed," what Miss Phyllis thinks about it--""I think it was just perfect, Mr. Carter."
"But for my part, I can only say that I never heard of such a dull affair in all my life.""Dull!" gasped Miss Phyllis.
"Dull!" murmured Mrs. Hilary.
"Dull!" chuckled Hilary.
"It was," said I severely, "without a spark of interest from beginning to end. Such things happen by thousands. It's commonplaceness itself. I had some hopes when you father assumed a firm attitude, but--""Mother was such a dear," interrupted Mrs. Hilary.
"Just so. She gave away the whole situation. Then I did trust that Hilary would lose his place, or develop an old flame, or do something just a little interesting.""It was a perfect time," said Mrs. Hilary.
"I wonder why in the world you told me about it," I pursued.
"I don't know why I did," said Mrs. Hilary dreamily.
"The only possible excuse for an engagement like that," Iobserved, "is to be found in intense post-nuptial unhappiness."Hilary rose, and advanced towards his wife.
"Your embroidery's falling on the floor," said he.
"Not a bit of it," said I.
"Yes, it is," he persisted; and he picked it up and gave it to her. Miss Phyllis smiled delightedly. Hilary had squeezed his wife's hand.
"Then we don't excuse it," said he.
I took out my watch. I was not finding much entertainment.
"Surely it's quite early, old man?" said Hilary.
"It's nearly eleven. We've spent half-an-hour on the thing,"said I peevishly, holding out my hand to my hostess.
"Oh, are you going? Good night, Mr. Carter."I turned to Miss Phyllis.
"I hope you won't think all love affairs are like that," I said;but I saw her lips begin to shape into "lovely," and I hastily left the room.
Hilary came to help me on with my coat. He looked extremely apologetic, and very much ashamed of himself.
"Awfully sorry, old chap," said he, "that we bored you with our reminiscences. I know, of course, that they can't be very interesting to other people. Women are so confoundedly romantic.""Don't try that on me," said I, much disgusted. "You were just as bad yourself."He laughed, as he leant against the door.
"She did look ripping in that white frock," he said, "with her hair--""Stop," said I firmly. "She looked just like a lot of other girls.""I'm hanged if she did!" said Hilary.
Then he glanced at me with a puzzled sort of expression.
"I say, old man, weren't you ever that way yourself?" he asked.
I hailed a hansom cab.
"Because, if you were, you know, you'd understand how a fellow remembers every--""Good night," said I. "At least I suppose you're not coming to the club?""Well, I think not," said Hilary. "Ta-ta, old fellow. Sorry we bored you. Of course, if a man has never--""Never!" I groaned. "A score of times!"
"Well, then, doesn't it--?
"No," said I. "It's just that that makes stories like yours so infernally--""What?" asked Hilary; for I had paused to light a cigarette.
"Uninteresting," said I, getting into my cab.
