Man and Maid

I was awfully glad to see old Maurice again--he was looking brown and

less dilettante--though his socks and tie and eyes matched as well as

ever! He congratulated me on the improvement in health in myself too,

and then he gave me all the news--.

Odette has been "painting the lily," and used some new skin tightener

which has disfigured her for the moment, and she has retired to the

family place near Bordeaux to weep until her complexion is restored

again--.

"Very unfortunate for her," Maurice said--"because she had nearly

secured a roving English peer who had enjoyed 'cushy' jobs during the

war, and had been recruiting from the fatigues of red-taping at

Deauville--and now, with this whisper of a spoiled skin, he had

transferred his attentions to Coralie--and there was trouble among the

graces!"--Alice's plaintiveness had actually caught a very rich neutral

who was forwarding philanthropic schemes for great ladies--and she hoped

soon to wed.

Coralie seemed in the most secure and happy case, since she is already

established, and can enjoy herself without anxiety.--Maurice hinted that

but for her béguin for me, she could land the English peer, and

divorce poor René--her docile war husband--and become an English

Countess!

"Thou hast upset everything, Nicholas. Duquesnois is desolated--Coralie

changed directly she saw you here--he says--and then to divert herself

and forget you, took Lord Brockelbank from Odette!"

"Vieux coquin! Va!" and Maurice patted me on the back--.

They were enchanted with my presents to them lately, he added, and were

all longing to return to Paris soon and thank me.

The war was simply growing into a nuisance and the quicker it was over

the better for everyone.(!) Then he beat about the bush for a little longer and at last began to

grow nearer the vital subject!-He had seen some of my Mont Aubin relations--fortunately for me, they

have been far from Paris in this last year--and they had anxiously asked

him if I thought of, marrying?--What in fact was I doing with myself

now that my wounds were healing?

I laughed--.

"I am so glad my mother was an only child and they are none of them near

enough to have the right to bore me--they had better continue their good

works at Biarritz--I am told my cousin Marguerite's convalescent home is

a marvel! I have sent her frequent donations."

Then Maurice plunged in--.

"You are not--becoming entangled in any way with your secretary, are you

Mon ami?" he asked.

I had decided beforehand that I would not get angry at anything he

said--so I was ready for this.