"You must be very _used_ to it!" he said grudgingly whereupon Juliet bridled, and declared: "I'm not! It's the very first case I've had, when--All my experiences so far, have been strictly business-like. I think you might give me _some_ encouragement. I thought I was so clever!" "You were, you were! Uncommonly clever, and I felt all sorts of a fool. I'm not used to playing a part, and it comes harder than I expected. It's a comfort to escape and feel that we can talk openly together!" He stretched his arms, and drew a big sigh of relief. Juliet sighed too, but not for the same reason. "I think it might be a wise precaution," she said presently, "if I sent my parents abroad to travel for several months! Mrs Maplestone spoke of wishing to see them, and it would be awkward to produce a suitable pair at a moment's notice. And dangerous! Think of the pitfalls that would yawn before us over reminiscences of childhood? Perhaps they'd better go for health! That would explain their leaving home just at this time. We must send them to a foreign spa for a six-weeks' course. Where shall they go?" "Marienbad," Antony said promptly, whereon Juliet drew herself up haughtily, and put on an air of offence. "No aspersions, if you please. _My_ parents are thin! It shall be rheumatism, I think. That's quite ordinary and eminently respectable. They might _both_ have it, if it comes to that." But Antony objected. "No. Not both! That's too drastic. My uncle would certainly object that you would inherit a tendency. Only your father! A recent attack..." "Just so; and they are anxious to take it in time. Mother goes with him, as they are a devoted couple and couldn't endure to be parted for six weeks. Mud baths, I think. There's such a sound of verisimilitude about mud baths! I think we must really decide on mud baths." "Poor beggar, yes! I'm afraid there's no help for him. Where are they, by the way? I've no idea. Have you?" "Oh, yes. They are in Germany somewhere. Or is it Italy? Somewhere about that part of the world," Juliet said vaguely, whereupon Antony took out his pocket-book and wrote down a memorandum. "A dutiful daughter ought to have her parents' address! I'll find that out before dinner. As a matter of fact, I don't think my uncle will trouble his head about your relations. There would have been the dickens to pay if he had not approved of you, but he was quite unusually amiable, took to you at first sight, and the aunt too. It went off far better than I expected." "Just let me be quite clear on one point," Juliet demanded. "Am I nice, and amiable, and meek, or am I dashing and sportive?" "Neither one nor the other, a useful blend. Don't worry about that. You are perfectly all right as you are." "And--just as a guide for moments of expansion--_might_ it be `Tony'?"