"I've just left the dear children at the Rodenstahls'," was the
Gr?fin's greeting.
"Were they looking very happy?" asked the Baroness.
"Wratislav was wearing some new English clothes, so, of course, he
was quite happy. I overheard him telling Toni a rather amusing
story about a nun and a mousetrap, which won't bear repetition.
Elsa was telling every one else a witticism about the Triple
Alliance being like a paper umbrella--which seems to bear
repetition with Christian fortitude."
"Did they seem much wrapped up in each other?"
"To be candid, Elsa looked as if she were wrapped up in a horse-
rug. And why let her wear saffron colour?"
"I always think it goes with her complexion."
"Unfortunately it doesn't. It stays with it. Ugh. Don't forget,
you're lunching with me on Thursday."
The Baroness was late for her luncheon engagement the following
Thursday.
"Imagine what has happened!" she screamed as she burst into the
room.
"Something remarkable, to make you late for a meal," said the
Gr?fin.
"Elsa has run away with the Rodenstahls' chauffeur!"
"Kolossal!"
"Such a thing as that no one in our family has ever done," gasped
the Baroness.
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