SHE. (_Interrupting encouragingly_) You're still a young man,
aren't you?
HE. Thirty-one.
SHE. (_Laying her hand on his_) Are you?
HE. (_Nodding_) Last November.
SHE. (_Lying with the insouciance of expertness_) I'm just
twenty. (_He nods his head, without showing the least sign of
disbelief._) Eleven years between us.
HE. Just the right ages, aren't we?
SHE. (_Leaving her hand where it is_) Do you think so?
HE. Eleven years difference--ideal!
SHE. Ten and a half.
HE. Eh?
SHE. I was born in June.
HE. Oh, were you? (_Sagely._) That's better yet.
SHE. Do you think so--Lord Brookfield?
HE. (_Surprised--or simulating it effectively._) Eh?
SHE. Lord Brookfield?
HE. How on earth did you know it?
SHE. (_With a laugh_) Oh, I am not so stupid as all that!
HE. You recognized me?
SHE. No. I have never seen you.
HE. A photo?
SHE. No.
HE. Then how did you know? . . .
SHE. (_Interrupting_) Lord Brookfield is a well-known man. The
papers said he was coming to the hotel. I knew every other
guest----
HE. But three or four others arrived this morning.
SHE. Americans.
HE. Oh!
SHE. You are English. I could see that right away.
HE. (_After a pause_) How clever of you!
SHE. Oh, Lord Brookfield!
HE. And how curious that I should meet you in this way--informal,
so to speak.
SHE. (_Laughing_) Odd, wasn't it? (_She rises._) Ugh!--how my
clothes are sticking to me!
HE. That's so. You had better change.
SHE. And you?
HE. I'm rather wet myself.
SHE. Will you take me back to the hotel?
HE. The sun is very hot here.
SHE. (_Instantly changing_) Oh, would you rather stay?
HE. (_Does not answer for a few seconds. Then, a little
abruptly_) Tell me: can you swim?
SHE. (_Startled_) Eh?
HE. Can you swim?
SHE. Lord Brookfield! Of course I can't!
HE. That's curious.
SHE. Curious?
HE. Neither can I.
SHE. (_Staggered, but returning to the attack with magnificent
self-possession_) Oh, but you swam splendidly! Clothes and all!
All the way from the other side of the lake!
HE. Did I?
SHE. Of course you did! One plunge, and a few magnificent
overhand strokes. . . . (_She notices his peculiar expression,
and hesitates._)
HE. (_Thoughtfully_) Plunge?
SHE. Why, certainly.
HE. (_Shaking his head_) I would have sworn I waded.
SHE. (_Laughing uneasily_) You are really too modest, Lord
Brookfield.
HE. Let's see. (_He picks up his coat, and shakes it out._) Of
course, I might have swum, but--Ah! the water line comes only as
far as the waist!
SHE. That means nothing.
HE. No? (_Feeling his head._) If I had plunged, my hair would
have been wet.
SHE. It dried in the sun.