"Well! and if the old maids did talk, they would only talk into their teacups and every one knows that to be monstrous ungenteel behaviour. Lud! I've been censured before. Why, when I was but sixteen I was the talk of the ballroom because I stepped four gavottes with Dicky Combleton, Squire Combleton's youngest son. Every one said I was a forward minx, and he's only a year older than me and that's only last year." Phyllida became very indignant, and Mr. Vernon who lacked humour became very indignant too at being compared to a bumpkin. "Surely my angel sees the circumstances are slightly altered?" He clasped her hand, and stroked it slowly, but she was not to be pacified and drew it away. "For my part, I don't know how you dare say you care for my reputation and sit here holding my hand. Walls have ears and hedges have eyes." "You would not withdraw your hand if you were sure we were not observed?" She made no reply. "Possibly," he went on, "you would let me kiss those sweet lips to a smile--if we were not observed?" "Indeed, I vow you should never do anything so indelicate." "Z----ds! my pretty Puritan----" he stopped because Phyllida's eyes were very wide open indeed. "Oh Sir! no one but a father or a very old man has the right to swear so dreadfully before a maid." He laughed. "So oaths depend on age for their propriety? I 'faith that's a new maxim I've learned this morning. After all, my Phyllida, I am fifteen years older than you." "That may be," she retorted primly, "and I have often wondered whether I should allow a man of middle-age to make love to me." Vernon wrinkled with annoyance at such a description. He certainly lacked humour. "But then, you see, I am in love with you, and not marrying you because our estates join like my cousin Clarice who, we all agreed, was old enough to know better." "Young enough, you mean. Morality rusts with the years." "I don't know what you are talking about, but it sounds like a text." "It is a text, my dear, the text of the man of the world." "I hate texts, but I don't hate goodness and you must promise never, never to swear again, and--never, never to try to kiss me." "Not even when we are wed?" "That's another matter." "Perhaps when you are old and wise and able to kiss you won't like kissing." "Oh! I protest, I should like it vastly," said Phyllida with great decision. "But if you have never made the attempt?" "A young woman knows by instinct." "But why won't you make sure in advance?" "Because 'tis imprudent and wicked." "For my part, I believe you are playing with me." And then began a long argument which settled nothing at all and, after ten minutes, left matters precisely where they started.