Belle and the dragon. An elfin comedy

...So—that is well. We need not despair of achieving that new life which consists in the perfection of our surroundings. We were discussing, my dear Gadfly, the great question of improvement. Our divine Melusine has grown weary of the commonplace and of frippery, fine furniture, and new dresses."

"I'm thankful to hear it; it’s about time," said the Gadfly.

"Above all things, let us be gracious," urged the Mystic.

"Yes, indeed, let us be gracious, darling," pleaded Melusine mildly. "And remember the diamond necklace."

"The fripperies and fineries have cost me a small fortune."

"I repeat, she is heartily tired of them."

"I wish she’d discovered that sooner."

"That was surely philosophically impossible. After all, experience is our chief teacher. They have been weighed in the balance of experience and found wanting. Melusine is thirsting ardently for the supreme realities of idealism. Can you help her now?"

"All nonsense!" said the Gadfly.

"Yes, it is indeed 'moonshine'—moonshine that we aspire to better things, moonshine that we love poetry. Most true—nonsense."

Then the Green Dragon entered with an apologetic look and a sideways movement.

"I appeal to the Unpardonable Sin," said the Mystic. "Basilisk A mythical reptile said to be the king of serpents and to have a fatal look; here used as a nickname for the Green Dragon., your Queen-Mother has decided to achieve idealism."

"Beautiful!" exclaimed the Green Dragon, with an adoring glance at the Serpent Lady, who was barely a year older than her.

She paused in the middle of the room, stretched out one arm, and uttered a yearning "Boo!"

"Poor Dragon," said Melusine compassionately. "There, no slobbering. Why don’t you get a lover?"

"I am pleased to find," remarked the Mystic, "that you are in sympathy with this noble motive."

"Yes, indeed," replied the Dragon rapturously.

"It only remains to be determined how we shall arrive at it. What can you suggest, most noble Gadfly?"

"I can only think of taking the tobacco shop," he answered with a tone that was clearly inadequate. "And then," he added thoughtfully, "I should eat up all the profits, especially when you came to see me."

"That is a real difficulty, and besides, we would be tainted by trade. There are, however, many courses open to us. There is the 'Phantom Inn' and the 'Haunted Hostelry,' run on a strictly uncommercial principle, without any concern for revenue. I have for a long time felt that in such a building we might accomplish our purpose of