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Rh somebody who does not care for such nonsense. Perhaps you will like it better when you are older"—regretfully.

"Never," said I. All the jam was now removed, and though I felt sticky, no one could guess that fact.

"Do you think a young man and woman aught to converse as though they were brother and sister—platonically, I mean?"

"Mr. Ravener," said I, pettishly, "I do not intend to talk metaphysics with you. I have ideas of my own. I like a man, if I have to meet him often, to talk sense."

"Suppose you fell in love?"—tentatively.

"Yes," said I, trying hard to blush a little and failing in a most abject manner. "You are rather impertinent, Mr. Ravener, but no matter. If I ever fell in love, I should see no necessity for discussing it with my 'loved one.' I should not like him any better if he deared and darlinged me. I think I should despise him. I know some people must be demonstrative. Letty Bishop kisses her father about sixteen times in the course of an evening. I suppose she likes it, but it always