HILDA [_drawing back_]. Jamie! Forget! Never! Why that's the greatest thing that ever comes into a girl's life! Forget it? How could you! JAMIE. And you're just the same? HILDA [_her head against his shoulder again_]. Always! JAMIE. The old lake looked somewhat different to-day, didn't it; so many of the cottages open, and such a crowd around? HILDA. Yes, but it wasn't so nice as it was that day. I thought there were just a few too many around to-day, didn't you? JAMIE. Yes--once--or--twice---- HILDA. Why? JAMIE. Oh, because I wanted to walk on and on alone with you--just you. I wanted to talk to you as we're talking now, but I couldn't with so many folks everywhere. But I had my chance when we started for home. I looked for interference; that's why I suggested separate carriages. HILDA [_indifferently_]. I knew it. JAMIE. You did? Now that shows you know more than I do. I didn't think you'd understand. HILDA. Did you really think me as dense as all that? JAMIE. I'm afraid I did. But I shan't again. I shall tell you everything, hereafter. I find I might as well. HILDA [_earnestly_]. Yes, you might, just exactly as well, for I shall know, anyway. JAMIE. I wonder if they had a good time. HILDA. Who; Herbert and Minnie? Of course they did. JAMIE. Do you think they care anything for each other? HILDA. Do I think so? Why, how should I know? JAMIE. You're her room-mate, aren't you? HILDA. Oh, yes, I'm her room-mate; but I might as well not be for all she tells me about herself. JAMIE. Does she ever say anything about him? HILDA. Not a word. JAMIE [_somewhat sarcastically_]. She seemed willing enough to go to the picnic; and I don't remember that she protested very violently when I suggested we go in separate carriages. HILDA. Of course she wanted to go. Any girl likes a good time now and then on a Saturday, after working hard all the week. And Minnie does work hard. But her wanting to go doesn't prove anything. And as for the separate carriages, no girl likes to be bundled in with a crowd. JAMIE. Yes, maybe that's so. As far as I'm concerned, I'm glad she didn't protest. HILDA. So am I. Do you think Herbert cares for her? JAMIE. Oh, I don't know. I'm not very well acquainted with him. He's always stuck in that musty old laboratory. I don't see him often. I'd never have thought of including him in the picnic, to-day, if you hadn't suggested it. HILDA. Oh, well, there wasn't any one else; I couldn't go and leave Minnie. He'd called here two or three times, and he took her to the Forty Club once; I thought he'd do. JAMIE. He did, I guess. They hadn't much to say to each other, but maybe they had a good time all the same. HILDA. Well, you know, she never has very much to say, nor he either, for that matter. JAMIE. I know it; all I could think of, seeing them up in front of the boat, was a pair of owls.