paused with them in mid-air and brought them down again. The arrested
action had a droll effect.

'Have a smoke,' said Henry, pretending not to notice this peculiar
conduct and pushing the tobacco jar towards him.

'No thanks, old man,' he replied. 'I'm giving up smoking--for a time.'

It was now Henry's turn to look surprised. 'Giving up smoking,' he
ejaculated. 'What's wrong--is it your liver?'

'No, no, my liver's all right.'

'Your lungs, then?'

'Of course, not.'

'It surely can't be your heart?'

William began to look annoyed. 'Look here, can't I go without a smoke
for once without my entire anatomy being held up for discussion?' He
then produced a cigarette and proceeded to light it.

'I thought you'd given up smoking,' commented the puzzled Henry.

'Do you call this smoking?' he replied in disgust. 'You might as well
give lemonade to a man who asks for a brandy and soda and tell him it's
just as good.'

'Then why renounce your pipe at all?' asked Henry, still mystified.