"But—er—wish her happiness from me," said Bill, cordially.
"Thanks very much, old man," said Reggie.
"And say I'm delighted, will you?"
"Certainly."
"You won't forget the word, will you? Delighted."
"Delighted."
"That's right. Delighted."
Reggie looked at his watch.
"Halloa! I must rush!"
Bill and Archie watched him as he bounded out of the restaurant.
"Poor old Reggie!" said Bill, with a fleeting compunction.
"Not necessarily," said Archie. "What I mean to say is, tastes differ, don't you know. One man's peach is another man's poison, and vice versa."
"There's something in that."
"Absolutely! Well," said Archie, judicially, "this would appear to be, as it were, the maddest, merriest day in all the glad New Year, yes, no?"
Bill drew a deep breath.
"You bet your sorrowful existence it is!" he said. "I'd like to do something to celebrate it."
"The right spirit!" said Archie. "Absolutely the right spirit! Begin by paying for my lunch!"
