New Eve and Old Adam

EXCERPT
"After all," she said, with a little laugh, "I can't see it was so wonderful of you to hurry home to me, if you are so cross when you do come."
"You would rather I stayed away?" he asked.
"I wouldn't mind."
"You would rather I had stayed a day or two in Paris—or a night or two."
She burst into a jeering "pouf!" of laughter.
"You!" she cried. "You and Parisian Nights' Entertainment! What a fool you would look."
"Still," he said, "I could try."