It was an error of judgment to ask if I took chutnee. And then . . . '
'Something else?'
'About the boots. Did I get them in London or Woking.'
'Oh dear, dear!'
'And then . . . '
'Not another! O Frank!'
'Well, the use of the word "my." You must give that word up. It should be "our."'
'I know, I know. It was when I said that the salt water had taken the curl out of the feather in my--no, in our--well, in THE hat.'
'That was all right. But it is OUR luggage, you know, and OUR room, and so on.'
'Of course it is. How foolish I am! Then the waiter knows! O Frank, what shall we do?'
'Not he. He knows nothing. I am sure of it. He is a dull sort of person. I had my eye on him all the time. Besides, I threw in a few remarks just to set the thing right.'
'That was when you spoke about our travels in the Tyrol?'
'Yes.'
'O Frank, how COULD you? And you said how lonely it was when we were the only visitors at the Swiss hotel.'
'That was an inspiration. That finished him.'
'And about the closeness of the Atlantic staterooms. I blushed to hear you.'
'But he listened eagerly to it all. I could see it.'
'I wonder if he really believed it. I have noticed that the maids and the waiters seem to look at us with a certain interest.'
'My dear girlie, you will find as you go through life that every man will always look at you with a certain interest.'
Maude smiled, but was unconvinced.
'Cheese, dear?'
'A little butter, please.'
'Some butter, waiter, and the Stilton. You know the real fact is, that we make the mistake of being much too nice to each other in public. Veterans don't do that. They take the small courtesies for granted--which is all wrong, but it shows that they ARE veterans. That is where we give ourselves away.'
'That never occurred to me.'
'If you want to settle that waiter for ever, and remove the last lingering doubt from his mind, the thing is for you to be rude to me.'
'Or you to me, Frank.'
'Sure you won't mind?'
'Not a bit.'
'Oh, hang it, I can't--not even for so good an object.'
'Well, then, I can't either.'
'But this is absurd. It is only acting.'
'Quite so. It is only fun.'
'Then why won't you do it?'
'Why won't you?'
'He'll be back before we settle it. Look here! I've a shilling under my hand. Heads or tails, and the loser has to be rude. Do you agree?'
'Very well.'
'Your call.'
'Heads.'
'It's tails.'
'Oh goodness!'
'You've got to be rude. Now mind you are. Here he comes.'
The waiter had come up the room bearing the pride of the hotel, the grand green Stilton with the beautiful autumn leaf heart shading away to rich plum-coloured cavities. He placed it on the table with a solemn air.
'It's a beautiful Stilton,' Frank remarked.
Maude tried desperately to be rude.
'Well, dear, I don't think it is so very beautiful,' was the best that she could do.
It was not much, but it had a surprising effect upon the waiter. He turned and hurried away.
'There now, you've shocked him?' cried Frank.
'Where HAS he gone, Frank?'
'To complain to the management about your language.'
'No, Frank. Please tell me! Oh, I wish I hadn't been so rude. Here he is again.'
'All right. Sit tight,' said Frank.
A sort of procession was streaming up the hall. There was their fat waiter in front with a large covered cheese-dish. Behind him was another with two smaller ones, and a third with some yellow powder upon a plate was bringing up the rear.
'This is Gorgonzola, main,' said the waiter, with a severe manner. 'And there's Camembert and Gruyere behind, and powdered Parmesan as well. I'm sorry that the Stilton don't give satisfaction.'
Maude helped herself to Gorgonzola and looked very guilty and uncomfortable. Frank began to laugh.
'I meant you to be rude to ME, not to the cheese,' said he, when the procession had withdrawn.
'I did my best, Frank. I contradicted you.'
'Oh, it was a shocking display of temper.'
'And I hurt the poor waiter's feelings.'
'Yes, you'll have to apologise to his Stilton before he will forgive you.'
'And I don't believe he is a bit more convinced that we are veterans than he was before.'
'All right, dear; leave him to me.