"You know," said she, "when I look round, I feel as if I had never seen a bath before." "I know. I felt just like that at first. And yet I have," I added thoughtfully; "they had one at a hotel I stayed at last Easter. At Biarritz, that was." "I wish you'd be serious," she said, laughing. "Then you might be of some use." "I don't think you're at all kind," said I, leaning against the screen of 'The Duchess' with a dejected air. "Excuse me," she said, "but is that the Slinker Slouch I've heard of? Your attitude, I mean?" "No," I said shortly. "It's the Leicester Lounge. But, to return to your unkindness. I want a bath just as much as you do." She recoiled. "You know what I mean. I'm a customer, like you. We're both in the same ba-boat. And I have been doing my best to indicate the merits of--er--of--" "The idle rich," she said, smiling. "Yes, but you see you shouldn't have. When you saw me coming you ought to have--" "Dodged behind a pillar, picked up my stick and gloves, and kept about ten bath-lengths away, until the partner reappeared? No doubt. But, then, you shouldn't have looked so priceless, or worn your sense of humour on your sleeve. You shouldn't have had a small, straight nose or a mouth like a red flower. You shouldn't have walked like a thoroughbred, or carried your clothes as if they were worth wearing. You shouldn't have had eyes I could see to read by, if the light failed." "Finished?" "No. But listen. I think I hear the partner coming--the genuine article, this time." There was no sound. "Anyway," I went on, "he'll be back in a moment; and so, as I'm afraid I didn't consider you just now, I'll try and make up for it. Good-bye." "But what about your bath? Have you seen one you like?" "Yes," said I. "I have. One. Not a bath, though. But I can easily come another day." I turned resolutely away. "I say," said the girl quietly. I swung round and looked at her. She still sat upon the edge of 'The Nobleman,' her little gloved hands gripping the rim on either side of her. Her face was raised a little, but she was looking down. One slight leg thrust out from under the blue frock, its dainty instep gleaming under the silk stocking. The ankle above it, very slender; the bucked shoe literally beaming with pride. "Yes?" I said. "I haven't seen a bath I like, either," she said simply. At this moment the partner came bustling back, full of apologies. Stifling a desire to strangle him, I congratulated the good man upon the condition of my hat, and turned to the girl. "Then, as we both want to see some baths, perhaps we might look at some together?" I said. "I think so." "If you please, madam," said the partner. He turned to 'The Duchess.' "Now, this is a first-class bath. One of our very latest models. Only this morning we received an order from Ceylon ..." Fortunately, we were both a little behind him.