She wore a closely fitting brown dress, which in colour matched the bronze of her hair and in shape showed off her lithe and generous figure.
I thought it my duty to cheer her by a well-deserved compliment.
"Are you aware," I said, with a low bow, "that you're a remarkably handsome woman ?" A perfectly unnecessary light came into her eyes and a superfluous flush to her cheeks.

"If I'm at least that to you, I'm happy," she said.
"You're that to the dullest vision.

Follow the _maitre d'hotel_," said I, as we entered the _salle a manger_, "and I'll walk behind in reflected glory." We made an effective entrance.

I declare there was a perceptible rattle of soup-spoons laid down by the retired Colonels and maiden ladies as we passed by.

Colonel Bunnion returned my nod of greeting in the most distracted fashion and gazed at Lola with the frank admiration of British Cavalry.