and if you persist in jumping whenever I say anything you don't like, I shall relapse into silence again."
"And on the whole," said Anna, thoughtfully, "your remarks are a little improvement on that deadly silence."
"Now," said Askett, pressing down the drawing pins; "tell me some more about the other Anna. I like your expression when you talk about the other Anna, it's so appreciative. I believe you are a solitary instance of a woman who can endure the charms of another woman without feeling jealous."
"Perhaps it is only the charms of the other Anna," she said, carelessly. "What do you want to know about her?"
"Oh, anything, everything. What does she do, for instance? said Askett, vaguely. His temporary interest in a woman, who was not there with the express purpose of distracting him, was already vanishing as he began to grow interested in his work.
"Do? Has she got to do anything? You surely don't suppose she is a model, or anything like that, do you? She's much too lazy to do things; she just has a good time, that's all. All her people are away or dead or at war with her; and she has some money of her own, not nearly enough of course, but still it's something. And she dresses rather well, and has a charming flat — I don't believe you are listening to a word I say, and it's too bad!"
"Indeed I am. It is my way of appearing interested. She dresses rather well, and has a charming flat. What more, please?"
"How much more do you want? That's enough for most people. And why do you want to know all about Anna, when you've never seen her?"
"Oh, surely, because you wanted something to talk about.
