The Skin Game

Book Excerpt: ... You know, Dodo, it's all pretty good rot in these days. HILLCRIST. Cads are cads, Jill, even in these days. JILL. What is a cad?HILLCRIST. A self-assertive fellow, without a sense of other people. JILL. Well, Old Hornblower I'll give you. HILLCRIST. I wouldn't take him. JILL. Well, you've got him. Now, Charlie--Chearlie--I say--the importance of not being Charlie----HILLCRIST. Good heavens! do you know their Christian names?JILL. My dear father, they've been here seven years. HILLCRIST. In old days we only knew their Christian names from their tombstones. JILL. Charlie Hornblower isn't really half a bad sport. HILLCRIST. About a quarter of a bad sport I've always thought out hunting. JILL. [Pulling his hair] Now, his wife--Chloe---HILLCRIST. [Whimsical] Gad! your mother'd have a fit if she knew you called her Chloe. JILL. It's a ripping name...