"
"None of which," said Susie, "except perhaps the last, is in the least
worth while."
"I agree with you, unreservedly," he assented; "but it is about what
most men in my position do."
"So I have heard," said Sue, "but I never really believed it. I thought
it an invention of the society reporters."
"It is true, nevertheless. You see there is no incentive, for most of
us, to do anything else. Of course, we cannot work, nor engage in
trade."
"I don't admit the 'of course.' But leaving that aside for the moment,
aren't there any exceptions?"
"Yes--a few at whom the rest of us look rather askance. You see, there
is the tradition to be maintained."
"The tradition?"
"Of royalty--of divine right. We must do nothing to spoil the tradition,
or weaken it, or our people may find out that we are not really
necessary, after all, just as the Americans have done."
Susie glanced at him to see if he was in earnest; but he appeared to be
entirely so.
"Do the exceptions mind being looked askance at?" she questioned.
"No, I do not think they mind in the least. Most of them are too busy to
pay any heed to what other people are thinking about them. Besides, the
cause of the exception is usually a woman, who takes up most of the
exception's leisure time."
"I'm afraid I don't quite understand.
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