I only wanted to see how the novel was coming out before somebody takes the book away from me." "You talk like a pint of shoe-strings," growled Portlaw; "you'd better find out whose horse has been denting the lawn all over and tearing off several yards of sod." "I know already," said Malcourt.
"Well, who had the nerve to--" "None of your bally business, dear friend.

Are you riding over to Pride's to-day ?" "Yes, I am." "I think I'll go, too." "You're not expected." "That's the charm of it, old fellow.

I didn't expect to go; they don't expect me; they don't want me; I want to go! All the elements of a delightful surprise, do you notice ?" Portlaw said, irritably: "They asked Mrs.Malcourt and me.

Nothing was said about you." "Something will be said if I go," observed Malcourt cheerfully.
Portlaw was exasperated.

"There's a girl there you behaved badly to.
You'd better stay away." Malcourt looked innocently surprised.
"Now, who could that be! I have, it is true, at times, misbehaved, but I can't ever remember behaving badly--" Portlaw, too mad to speak, strode wrathfully away toward the stables.
Malcourt was interested to see that he could stride now without waddling.
"Marvellous, marvellous!--the power of love!" he mused sentimentally; "Porty is no longer rotund--only majestically portly.