Me: Why can’t you just look at the camera? You know I’m trying to take your photo.
Nell: Why can’t you just let me enjoy my walk on the beach in peace?
Me: We all want to see your beautiful silvery face.
Nell: Less of the silvery, please. Now, what do you think about masks?
Me: Excuse me?
Nell: Someone suggested a masked ball.
Me: Isn’t it a bit late for that? The ball is tomorrow.
Nell: That’s what I said, but The Cat disagreed.
Me: I used to have a gorgeous peacock blue feathery eye mask. One of the ones you carry on a stick.
Nell: Very Venetian.
Me: Exactly. Goodness only knows what happened to it.
Nell: I thought I saw one of the llamas wearing something similar yesterday but I might be mistaken.
Me: I’ve got one of those restorative face masks and half a cucumber.
Nell: What are you talking about?
Me: The ones that make your face all tingly.
Nell: And the cucumber?
Me: You slice it and put it on your eyes.
Nell: I’d rather have it in my salad, thank you.
Me: Personally, I think people should be able to come to the ball dressed as they please.
Nell: My friend Dorothy is wearing Bark Jacobs.
Me: Don’t you mean Marc Jacobs, the New York fashion designer?
Nell: No. I mean Bark Jacobs a Devon based Dogue de Bordeaux.
Me: I don’t think I know him.
Nell: He’s a friend of The Cat’s and his designs are extremely popular with the Salcombe set.
Me: I see. Talking of friends, do you think A Friend is going to be at the ball?
Nell: Miss Maple is sure of it.
Me: How exciting. Maybe he will finally be unmasked.
Nell: Or she.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
