“Such a little one!” he said. “I call it a pretty big one,” she answered. “I mean the hand—not the kiss,” he said smiling. “You really are sophisticated,” she told him. “Only fancy if you had reversed those nouns!” “I know,” he said; “but I’ve kissed hands before. You see, I’m more talented than you think.” “Don’t be silly,” she said smiling. “I really am beginning to think very well of you. You don’t want me to cease to, do you?” “Why do women always say ‘Don’t be silly’?” he queried. “I wish I could find one who wanted to be very original, and so said, ‘Do be silly’, just for a change.” “Dear me, if women were to beg men to be silly what would happen?” Mrs. Rosscott exclaimed. “The majority are so very foolish without any special egging on.” “But it is so dreadfully time-worn—that one phrase.” “Oh, if it comes to originality,” she answered, “men are not original, either. Whenever they lie down in the shade, they always begin to talk nonsense. You reflect a bit and see if that isn’t invariably so.” “But nonsense is such fun to talk in the shade,” he said, spreading her fingers out upon his own broad palm. “So many things are so next to heavenly in the shade.” “You ought not to hold my hand.” “I know it.” “I am astonished that you do not remember your Aunt Mary’s teaching you better.” “She never forbade my holding your hand.” “Suppose anyone should come suddenly down the path?” “They would see us and turn and go back.” “To tell everyone—” “What?” “A lie.” Jack laughed, folded her hand hard in his, and drew himself into a sitting posture beside her knee. “Now, don’t be silly,” she said with earnest anxiety. “I won’t have it. It’s putting false ideas in your head, because I’m really only playing, you know.” “The shadow of love,” he suggested. “Quite so.” “And if—” He leaned quite near. “Not by any means,” she exclaimed, springing quickly to her feet. “Come—come! It’s quite time that we were going back to the house.” “Why must we?” he remonstrated. “You know why,” she said. “It’s time we were being sensible. When a man gets as near as you are, I prefer to be _en promenade_. And don’t let us be foolish any longer, either. Let us be cool and worldly. How much money has your aunt, anyhow?” Jack had risen, too. “What impertinence!” he ejaculated. “Not at all,” she said. “Maude has so much money of her own that I ask in a wholly disinterested spirit.” “She’s very rich,” said Jack. “But if your spirit is so disinterested, what do you want to know for?” “This is a world of chance, and the main chance in a woman’s case is alimony; so it’s always nice to know how to figure it.” “It’s a slim chance for your cousin,” said Jack. “Do tell her that I said so.” “No, I shan’t,” said she perversely. “I won’t be a go-between for you and her. Besides, as to that alimony, there are more heiresses than Maude in our family.”