Valentia stared at her in silence. "What is your idea, darling? Why, you won't be eighteen till June. You can't be sure you'll never want to marry!" "Well, I don't care for Van Buren." "I thought you liked him so much?" "Well, he seems all right at first. But I simply couldn't stand him always about." "Couldn't you? Poor pet! But he mightn't _be_ always about." "Well, I couldn't stand his marked attention. Valentia, I _hate_ marked attention." "Do you, really? Who'd have thought it?" "Well--and he'd always be so considerate and so thoughtful and so respectful!" "That mightn't last when you were married," said Valentia consolingly. "Perhaps he might not be so bad after we were once married.... But I shouldn't like to risk it. And the engagement! Oh! I couldn't simply _stand_ the engagement! Just think of the ring, and the sentiment, and the fuss, and the letters! Oh, he'd enjoy it all so much! Oh, it would make me simply sick to see how pleased he'd be!" "I know that feeling," said Valentia sympathetically, nodding her head. "Oh, and don't you see how he'd think he was engaged to a well-brought-up, nice English girl who was a relation of Harry's, and knew all the right people, and all that sort of thing? And he'd take a big house--he's hinted this to me already--most likely in Park Lane--anyhow, something just like a millionaire in a book. It's all so dull, and cut-and-dried." "Some of these cut-and-dried obvious things turn out quite jolly afterwards. It's the uncomfortable, romantic things that are more often failures. And you know, Daphne, you do like pretty things and clothes, and going everywhere, and--not only that, he's really such a dear, and a good sort, and so good-looking! And you'd put me into a very awkward position with Harry if you refuse him. But, of course, darling, you must do as you like." "Well, then, Valentia, don't _let_ me refuse him. I don't want to. Don't let it come to that. I'm sure I should loathe to hear him propose." "Why?" "It would make me sick." "What can I tell Harry really as your reason for not being able to stand Van?" "I'm sure _I_ don't know!" "He bores you," announced Valentia. "That's what's the matter. He doesn't amuse you." "It isn't that, it isn't that!" cried Daphne vehemently. "I don't _want_ to be amused. Do you think I like a man because he's clever, or funny, and always making jokes? That bores me frightfully. Harry's way of being lively and clever bores me to _death_! I don't want to marry a professional entertainer! No, Valentia, that's more the sort of thing you'd like. _You're_ quite sorry Romer's not like that." "I don't suggest that it would be ideal to marry Harry Lauder, Daphne dear. But wouldn't you really like someone fairly intelligent?" "No. Why should I? Do you think I want to marry a man so horribly clever that he wouldn't understand a word I said?"