Page:O Genteel Lady! (1926).pdf/172

 She squared her light jaw. 'I'd rather have that,' she said with an ungirlish stolidity, 'than the imagined passion that you affect.'

'You would prefer vulgarity?'

'I'd prefer ''anything. ' ''

'My dear young woman, you are so innocent you do not understand how your words strike the cruder masculine ear.'

'But why must you always harp upon my innocence?'

'But that is why I love you. And it is apparent in all your motions, in your modest responses to my kisses. How many times I have pressed my lips to your cheek and met only maidenly shrinking. Come, Lanice...' and he endeavored to bend her to his arms.

'You do not kiss me,' she said, 'you have never kissed me, but only pecked at me like a bird at a rotten cherry. When you go courting again, some other girl, remember this.'

She took his face between her hands and pressed her shiny, tight red lips against his dull mouth. Both recoiled like released springs. Jumping to their feet, facing each other, gaping in amazement that a pure young woman could act thus and thus. She stammered—

'I didn't want to kiss you! It was unintentional. Please believe me. How could I kiss ''you? ' ''

'How could you, indeed?'

She saw that he was oddly excited and there was something hateful in his white-lashed eyes.

'Can you teach me some more of these tricks,