"I didn't say I didn't want to go with you. If I must go at all I would just as soon go with you as any one." "I don't know that there's any necessity for you to go at all if you don't want to." "Ah, but you don't know everything." "Why did you come, then?" "I'll tell you when we get back again. Now paddle up to the Bridge of Sighs." "How mysterious you are! But there's no hurry. Let us go down this little backwater. You can't think how jolly it is. There are shady trees on one side and a field with daisies and cows and buttercups and things on the other." "No thank you, I don't want to go down a backwater. I want to paddle down to St. John's and back." "What for?" "I shan't tell you yet." "Then I shan't paddle." "How tiresome you are, Lucius! You spoil all my pleasure in your society." "You said you didn't take any pleasure in my society just now." "No more I do. Now paddle along, there's a good boy." "Who is that female on the bank taking such an interest in us?" "She isn't a female. Don't be rude. She's one of my particular friends. Now go on please." "What is she doing there? Why doesn't she go home?" "She will, when we have been up to the Bridge of Sighs and back, and I shall go with her. Now do paddle on and be quick. I shall get into a row, you know, if anyone else sees me here." "I shan't go on until you tell me what all this is about. Don't get into a temper. If you kick the bottom of the boat like that your foot will go through and we shall both be in the water." "You really are too provoking, Lucius. I'll never speak to you again if you don't go on directly." Lucius began to paddle on slowly. "Now, tell me," he said, "why you wanted to come." "Well, if you must know, that girl betted me a box of chocolates that I wouldn't, and I do love them so and I've spent all last quarter's allowance and can't afford to buy any. Now do go on, Lucius, there's a good boy. We have only got to get up to the Bridge of Sighs and back, and I shall get them." Lucius stopped again. "I don't know that I want you to get them particularly," he said, "after what you have said about not wanting to come with me. Didn't you want to come with me a bit?" "No, of course not." "Not a little bit?" "No." "Then I shan't go on." "Oh--oh--oh! I feel as if I should like to throw something at you." "Well, why don't you? Look, there's the girl on the bank grinning at you. How pleased she'll be if I let her win." "Horrid thing, she is! But I hate you worse still. I feel as if I could do anything to you now." "What, hurt poor little Cousin Lucy? Oh, Betty, for shame!" "Well, if you won't go on, turn back then, and I'll get out. Only I'll never speak to you again as long as I live." "I say, Betty, are you very fond of chocolates?" "Yes, I am, but I wouldn't sit here for another five minutes for all the chocolates in the world. Turn round and go back, please."