"It would be bearish to refuse, and allow your sisters to go alone! I've always longed for a brother to take me about. A nice man is always considerate to girls." Miles grunted. "If I did go, they wouldn't speak to me all the evening! I never know what to say to strangers. I should have to sit in a corner by myself. There'll be a crowd of girls--you, and Betty, and Mrs Vanburgh's sisters, and who knows how many more?" Cynthia bowed her head in stately salute. "You would not be ungallant enough to insinuate that there could be too many! It will be your proud privilege to introduce a masculine element into the assembly." "Humph!" "It likewise appears probable to me that Mrs Vanburgh may know a few nice men besides yourself." Betty would have said "boys," Cynthia knew better, and reaped her reward in Miles' wavering air. "Couldn't entertain a party for one minute, let alone ten." "We will go into partnership then, and do it together! Ten minutes instead of five. We'll be confederates, and show them tricks. I know a lovely one about telling the time from the position of a poker--no! How silly I am, I always give away the secret! You tell a _card_, not the hour. It's quite easy. You have an imaginary clock face on the hearthrug; twelve o'clock is the fire, and you lay the poker on the rug with the point on the number you want--one, two, three and so on, up to queen. For king, you simply hold it in your hand, which puzzles them more than ever." "What about the suits?" "Oh, that's quite easy. When the person outside comes in, he must notice first of all how his confederate is looking; to the left means hearts; to the right, diamonds; upwards, clubs; downward, spades. It's really a lovely trick. We'll rehearse it, and I'm sure you must know many more." "I know some balancing tips,--Georgia Magnet business. You might be the Magnetic Lady, and I'd be the showman." "Oh, lovely, lovely! Could you teach me really? Could I lift up a table with two or three men sitting on it, like you see in the advertisements?" cried Cynthia fervently, and though Miles replied, "Rather not!" he condescended to state one or two less strenuous feats which she might safely accomplish, and even to put her through a preliminary drilling on the spot.