"I knew when I seen them red eyes the little Peachy wasn't up to snuff, and her cute little devilishlike ways. What's hurting you, Tootsie? Been bounced? You should worry. I'm going to steal you out of that cellar, anyways. Been bounced?" "N-no." "The old hag 'ain't been making it hot for you, has she?" "Sh-she--" "Gad! that old hag gets my fur up. I had a mother-in-law once tried them tricks on me till I learned her they wouldn't work. But the old hag of yourn--" "It's her eyes; the doctor must have scared her up again to-day. When she gets scared like that about 'em she acts up so, honest, sometimes I--I just wish I was dead. She don't think a girl oughtta have no life." "Forget it. Just you wait. She's going to wake up some morning soon and find a little surprise party for herself. I know just how to handle an old bird like her." "Sometimes she's just so good to me, and then again, when she gets sore like to-night, and with her nagging and fussing at me, I don't care if she is my aunt, I just _hate_ her." "We're going to give her a little surprise party." Beneath the lap robe his hand slid toward hers. She could feel the movement of the arm that directed it and her own shrank away. "But ain't I the limit, Jerry, airing my troubles to you, like you was a policeman." "Now, now--" "Quit! Leggo my hand." They were spinning noiselessly along a road that curved for the moment away from the river into the velvet shadows of trees. He leaned forward suddenly, enveloping her. "I got it. Why don't you lemme kidnap you, kiddo?" "What--" "Lemme kidnap you to-night and give the old hag the surprise of her life when she wakes up and finds you stolen. I'm some little kidnapper when it comes to kidnapping, I am, kiddo. Say, wouldn't I like to take you riding all wrapped up in a fur coat with nothing but your cute little face sticking out." "Aw, you're just fooling me." "Fooling! Lemme prove it, to-night. Lemme kidnap you this very night. I--" She withdrew stiff-backed against his embrace. "Is--is that what you mean by--by kidnapping me?" "Sure. There ain't nothing I'd rather do. Are you on, Peaches? A sensible little queen like you knows which side her bread is buttered on. There ain't nothing I want more than to see you all bundled up in a fur coat with--headlights in your little bittsie pink ears." She sprang the width of the seat from him. "You--What kind of a girl do you think I am? O God! What kind of a girl does he think I am? Take me home--take me--What kind of a girl do you think I am?" He leaned toward her with a quick readjustment of tone. "Just what I said, Peachy. What I meant was I'd marry you to-night if we could get a license. I'd just kidnap you to-night if--if we could get one." "You--you didn't mean that." "Sure I did, Peachy. Say, with a little girl of my own I ain't one of them guys that you think I am. Ain't you ashamed of yourself, Peachy--now ain't you?"