ersistently exaggerated. But man's supreme conceit is in regard to his
personal appearance. Let a single entry in a laboratory note-book
suffice for proof.

_Time, evening. MAN is reading a story in a current magazine to the GIRL
he is calling upon._

MAN. "Are you interested in this?"

GIRL. "Certainly, but I can think of other things too, can't I?"

MAN. "That depends on the 'other things.' What are they?"

GIRL. (_Calmly._) "I was just thinking that you are an extremely
handsome man, but of course you know that."

MAN. (_Crimsoning to his temples._) "You flatter me!" (_Resumes
reading._)

Girl. (_Awaits developments._)

MAN. (_After a little._) "I didn't know you thought I was good-looking."

GIRL. (_Demurely._) "Didn't you?"

MAN. (_Clears his throat and continues the story._)

MAN. (_After a few minutes._) "Did you ever hear anybody else say that?"

GIRL. "Say what?"

MAN. "Why, that I was--that I was--well, good-looking, you know?"

GIRL. "Oh, yes! Lots of people!"

MAN. (_After reading half a page._) "I don't think this is so very
interesting, do you?"

GIRL. "No, it isn't. It doesn't carry out the promise of its beginning."

MAN. (_Closes magazine and wanders aimlessly toward the mirror in the
mantel._)

MAN. "Which way do you like my hair; this way, or parted in the middle?"

GIRL. "I don't know--this way, I guess. I've never seen it parted in the
middle."

MAN. (_Taking out pocket comb and rapidly parting his hair in the
middle._) "There! Which way do you like it?"

GIRL. (_Judicially._) "I don't know. It's really a very hard question to
decide."

MAN. (_Reminiscently._) "I've gone off my looks a good deal lately. I
used to be a lot better looking than I am now."

GIRL. (_Softly._) "I'm glad I didn't know you then."

MAN. (_In apparent astonishment._) "Why?"

GIRL. "Because I might not have been heart whole, as I am now."

(_Long silence._)

MAN. (_With sudden enthusiasm._) "I'll tell you, though, I really do
look well in evening dress."

GIRL. "I haven't a doubt of it, even though I've never seen you wear
it."

MAN. (_After brief meditation._) "Let's go and hear Melba next week,
will you? I meant to ask you when I first came in, but we got to
reading."

GIRL. "I shall be charmed."

_Next day, GIRL gets a box of chocolates and a dozen American
Beauties--in February at that._

[Sidenote: Dimples and Dress Clothes]

Tell a man he has a dimple and he will say "where?"