Page:Flaming Youth black on red.pdf/147

 FLAMING fully ;“that’s a bluff.

YOUTH

Idon’t know.

143.

Sort of nervousness,

T expect.” “That is what I feared for you; that you would brood over it and make yourself unhappy ? “It wasn’t that at all,” interrupted Pat simply and promptly. “But I did want to see you again and kno¥ that you didn’t think—that I wasn’t too awfully—th.t I didn’t seem just a fresh kid to you.” “No. You didn’t.” “Was that being ‘petite gamine’?” She threw a sidelong glance at him. “Was it? You should know.” “After all, it was only a white kiss,”

“A what?” “White kiss.

There are white kisses and red kisses,”

she explained unconcernedly. “You have no right to that kind of knowledge,” said he sternly. “Where did you come by it?” “JT told you,” she muttered gloomily, “that I used to be a terrible necker.” “Yes. But—that sort of thing! Don’t you know that’s dangerous?” “Would it be with you?” she asked with direct and naive curiosity. “There is no question of it with me,” he answered rigidly. “But, so far as that goes, no. I am old enough to know how to control myself.” “Then you’re different from most men,” she returned bitterly. “Good God, child! Have you learned that already? At your age?” “Since we’re telling each other our real names,” said Pat in her levelest tones, “the first time I was kissed I

was hardly fifteen.”