escaped lock.~) "You must think me so untidy. But out in the country, and in a place like this where no one sees us, it makes one careless of appearance." ~He.~ "I like 'a sweetneglect,' especially in - in some people; it suits them so well. I - 'pon my word, it's very hot!" ~She.~ "But how much hotter it must be from under the shade. It is so pleasant here. It seems so dreamlike to sit among the shadows and look out upon the bright landscape." ~He.~ "It ~is~ - very jolly - soothing, at least!" (~A pause.~) "I think you'll slip. Do you know, I think it will be safer if you will let me" (~here his courage fails him. He endeavours to say~ put my arm round your waist, ~but his tongue refuses to speak the words; so he substitutes~) "change places with you." ~She.~ (~Rises, with a look of amused vexation.~) "Certainly! If you so particularly wish it." (~They change places.~) "Now, you see, you have lost by the change. You are too tall for that end of the seat, and it did very nicely for a little body like me." ~He.~ (~With a thrill of delight and a sudden burst of strategy.~) "I can hold on to this branch, if my arm will not inconvenience you." ~She.~ "Oh no! not particularly:" (~he passes his right arm behind her, and takes hold of a bough:~) "but I should think it's not very comfortable for you." ~He.~ "I couldn't be more comfortable, I'm sure." (~Nearly slips off the tree, and doubles up his legs into an unpicturesque attitude highly suggestive of misery. - A pause~) "And do you tell your secrets here?" ~She.~ "My secrets? Oh, I see - you mean, with Kitty. Oh, yes! if this tree could talk, it would be able to tell such dreadful stories." ~He.~ "I wonder if it could tell any dreadful stories of - ~me?~" [AN OXFORD FRESHMAN 247] ~She.~ "Of you? Oh, no! Why should it? We are only severe on those we dislike." ~He.~ "Then you don't dislike me?" ~She.~ "No! - why should we?" ~He.~ "Well - I don't know - but I thought you might. Well, I'm glad of that - I'm ~very~ glad of that. 'Pon my word, it's ~very~ hot! don't you think so?" ~She.~ "Yes! I'm burning. But I don't think we should find a cooler place." (~Does not evince any symptoms of moving.~) ~He.~ "Well, p'raps we shouldn't." (~A pause.~) "Do you know that I'm very glad you don't dislike me; because, it wouldn't have been pleasant to be disliked by you, would it?" ~She.~ "Well - of course, I can't tell. It depends upon one's own feelings." ~He.~ "Then you don't dislike me?" ~She.~ "Oh dear, no! why should I?" ~He.~ "And if you don't dislike me, you must like me?" ~She.~ "Yes - at least - yes, I suppose so."