Page:Caroline Lockhart--The full of the Moon.djvu/28

 own way," she concluded vaguely, "or something like that."

"And you think I'm an unambitious idler"—his color had risen slightly—"that I haven't aggression and—well, the manly, fighting qualities which would attract a girl like you?"

"Oh, I didn't mean to imply that," Nan answered quickly, feeling that she had hurt him. "I wasn't personal—I was just talking," and she laughed, "to hear myself."

"I know," he nodded ruefully, and added, "It's a fact, though, that I don't do much but amuse myself. But what am I to do. Nan?" he pleaded half humorously, half in earnest. "I don't want to reform anybody so I wouldn't get anywhere in politics, and besides I'm not keen on strange bedfellows. There isn't any reason why I should make more money, because with my simple tastes it taxes my ingenuity to spend what I have, and you won't help me. Philanthropy would make a cynic of me in a week, for I have discovered there's nothing like dispensing charity to wreck one's faith in human nature."