Well-born as Leah Kaimes was, the pleasant, if somewhat stately and stiff, life of these genuine rulers wearied her intensely. Bread and milk is insipid after a repast of ortolans in aspic, and a motor-flight is more exhilarating than a donkey-ride. Moreover, it annoyed her to see how sensibly the Hengists spent their many pounds a day. They could have had much more fun for the money, had they known the right shops; but they patronised out-of-date establishments, where the goods were of an excellent quality, but just five minutes behind the newest things. Of course, this was Leah's figurative way of saying that the Hengists came out of the Ark. They always bought the wrong things at the wrong shops, and had a middle-class eye to the lasting quality of the goods they purchased. They were clothed rather than dressed, and being colour-blind, invariably chose garments which matched abominably with their complexions. In a word, the Hengists were so commonplace as to be original. Lady Jim could not understand why they should have been thrust into positions which they could not fill. It was like bringing cows into the drawing-room. "It's so hard for me to taste the pleasures of self-denial," complained Hengist, one day, as they sauntered on the promenade. "I don't think it is wise to attempt the extraction of sunbeams from cucumbers," said Leah, dryly. "Dean Swift said that, but he was an egotist," replied Hengist, in his serious way, that reminded Lady Jim of Lionel at his worst. "It is more blessed to give than to receive, you know." "Is it, indeed? Who said so?" "The wisest and most loving of mankind. And it is a true saying. I assure you, that if I deny myself something I greatly desire, and send the money which would have purchased the gratification to a charity, I feel absolutely happy." "I don't think I ever tried that experiment." "You will not know true happiness till you do, Lady James." "Then I must make a bid for Paradise," she answered, privately thinking that the man talked sad nonsense. "It's a dreadful thing to be able to have the moon for the asking," went on Hengist, reflectively. "That's your epigrammatic way of putting it, I suppose; but the moon won't drop from her sphere for me, howl as I may. You are very lucky to command the planet, Lord Hengist." "So the world thinks, but it forgets that there is the curse of satiety." "Is there? I never knew it existed. I only wish I could cram the twelve hours of the day with twenty-four of pleasure." "Have you ever had everything you wished for, Lady James?" "No!" said Leah, promptly. "I'd have the sun as well as the moon, and the stars thrown in, if I had my way." "Only to be bored by the acquisition of the lot." "Me bored--oh dear no! I am too stupid. It is only clever people like yourself who suffer from ennui. I only wish I were a Roman empress, with provinces for a dowry. Those dear women knew how to live." "But in the majestic pages of Gibbon----"