"Miss Hampton is not a conventional young woman," says he. "She made that quite plain. It seems, Torchy, that your--er--that my method was somewhat crude and primitive. In fact, I believe she pointed out that the customs of the Stone Age were obsolete. I was given to understand that she was not to be won in any such manner. Perhaps you can imagine that I was not thoroughly at ease after that." And, honest, I'd never seen Mr. Robert when he was feelin' so low. "Gee!" says I. "You didn't quit at that, did you?" "Unfortunately no," says he. "Our caveman tactics having failed, I tried the modern style--at least, I thought I was being modern. The usual thing, you know." "Eh?" says I. "Both knees on the rug and the reg'lar conservatory nook wilt-thou-be-mine lines?" "I spoke my piece standing," says he, "making it as impassioned and eloquent as I knew how. Miss Hampton continued to be amused." "Did you get any hint as to what was so funny about all that?" says I. "It appears," says Mr. Robert, "that impassioned declarations are equally out of date--early-Victorian, to quote Elsa exactly. Anyway, she gave me to understand that while my love-making was somewhat entertaining, it was hopelessly medieval. She very kindly explained that undying affection, tender devotion, and the protection of manly arms were all tommyrot; that she really didn't care to be enshrined queen of anyone's heart or home. She wishes to avoid any step that may hinder the development of her own personality. You--er--get that, I trust, Torchy?" "Clear as mush," says I. "Was it just her way of handin' you the blue ticket?" "Not quite," says Mr. Robert. "That is, I'm a little vague as to my exact status myself. I assume, however, that I've been put on probation, as it were, until we become better acquainted." "And you're standin' for that, Mr. Robert!" says I. He hunches his shoulders. "Miss Hampton has taught me to be humble," says he. "I don't pretend to understand her, or to explain her. She is a brilliant and superior young person. She has, too, certain advanced ideas which are a bit startling to me. And yet, even when she's hurling Bernard Shaw or H. G. Wells at me she--she's fascinating. That quirky smile of hers, the quick changes of expression that flash into those big, china-blue eyes, the sudden lift of her fine chin,--how thoroughly alive she is, how well poised! So I--well, I want her, that's all. I--I want her!" "Huh!" says I. "Suppose you happened to get her? What would you----" "Heaven only knows!" says he. "The question seems rather, what would she do with me? Hence the probation." "Is this going to be a long-distance tryout," says I, "with you reportin' for inspection every other Tuesday?" He says it ain't. Miss Hampton's idea is to shelve the matrimony proposition and begin by seein' if they can qualify as friends. She shows him how they'd never really seen enough of each other to know if they had any common tastes.