smokeress

But no sooner have we actually arrived at a station and debouched on its platform, and some nice old dear of a pater-familias-looking gentleman has got his tobacco roll alight,—than up comes our determined smokeress, and looks at him as innocent as a newborn babe; so of course he instantly becomes self-convicted of a solecism, and with floundering apologies humbly offers her a light; and she takes it too; but then, as she can only persuade her own aromatic leaf to ignite thoroughly while he is pulling away with all his lungs at his, why there necessarily ensues a most piquant tête-à-tête, as they look intensely for a minute or so right into each other’s countenances, at only the length of two cigars apart and the glowing little spark between.