"Then how does your lordship account for the rumor?" "I have an indirect connection with a sort of new nunnery, which it is proposed to found--the Old Maids' Club." "Oh, yes, the one that Clorinda Bell is going to join." "Nonsense! who told you she was going to join?" The _Moon_-man winced perceptibly at the question, as he replied indignantly: "Herself!" "Thank you. That's what I wanted to know. You may contradict it on the authority of the president. She only said so to get an advertisement." "Then why give her two by contradicting it?" "That is the woman's cleverness. Let her have the advertisement, rather than that her name should be connected with Miss Dulcimer's." "Very well. Tell me something, please, about the Club." "It is not organized yet. It is to consist of young and beautiful women, vowed to celibacy to remove the reproach of the term 'Old Maid.'" "It is a noble idea!" said the _Moon_-man, enthusiastically. "Oh, what a humanitarian time we are having!" "Lord Silverdale," said Herr Nickeldorf, who had been listening with all his ears, "I hafe to you give de hospitality of my balloon. Vill you, in return, take _mein frau_ into de Old Maids' Club?" "As a visitor? With pleasure, as she is a married woman." "_Nein, nein._ I mean as an old maid. _Ich habe sic nicht nöthig._ I do not require her any longer." "Ah, then, I am afraid we can't. You see she _isn't_ an old maid!" "But she haf been." "Ah, yes, but we do not recognize past services." "Oh, _warum_ wasn't the Club founded before I married?" groaned the old German. "_Himmel_, vat a terrible mistake! It is to her I owe it that I am de most celebrated aeronaut in _der ganzeu welt_. It is the only profession in wich I escape her _gewiss_. She haf de _kopf_ too veak to rise mit me. Ah, when I come oop here, it is _Himmel_." "Rather taking an unfair rise out of your partner, isn't it?" queried the _Moon_-man with a sickly smile. "And vat vould you haf done in--_was sagt man_--in my shoes?" The _Moon_-man winced. "Not put them on." "You are not yourself married?" The _Moon_-man winced. "No, I'm only engaged." "_Mein herr_," said the old German solemnly, "I haf nodings but drouble from you. You make to me mein life von burden. But I cannot see you going to de altar widout putting out de hand to safe you. It was stupid to yourself engage at all--but, now dat you haf committed de mistake, shtick to it!" "How do you mean?" "Keep yourself engaged. Do not change your gondition any more." "What do you say, Lord Silverdale?" said the _Moon_-man, anxiously. "I am hardly an authority. You see I have so rarely been married. It depends on the character of your betrothed. Does she long to be of service in the world?" The _Moon_-man winced. "Yes, that's why she fell in love with me. Thought a _Moon_-man must be all noble sentiment like the _Moon_ itself!" "She is, then, young," said Silverdale, musingly. "Is she also beautiful?" The _Moon_-man winced.