"I wish it had been a little later still," said I, for I felt
embarrassed.
"You promise, on your honor, to be absolutely sincere, you know,
and then you write what you think of me. See what a lot of
opinions I've got already," and she held up the thick album.
"It would be extremely interesting to read them," I observed.
"Oh!" but they're quite confidential," said Dolly. "That's part
of the fun."
"I don't appreciate that part," said I.
"Perhaps you will when you've written yours," suggested Lady
Mickleham.
"Meanwhile, mayn't I see the Dowager's?"
"Well, I'll show you a little bit of the Dowager's. Look here:
Our dear Dorothea is still perhaps just a thought wanting in
seriousness, but the sense of her position is having a sobering
effect.'"
"I hope not," I exclaimed apprehensively. "Whose is this?"
"Archie's."
"May I see a bit--?"
"Not a bit," said Dolly. "Archie's is--is rather foolish, Mr.
Carter."
"So I suppose," said I.
"Dear boy!" said Dolly reflectively.
"I hate sentiment," said I. "Here's a long one. Who wrote--?"
"Oh, you mustn't look at that--not at that, above all!"
"Why above all?" I asked with some severity.
Dolly smiled; then she observed in a soothing tone.
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