"Well, you know she couldn't get over it for ever so long, but laughed no end, while I sat utterly amazed at the extent to which I had made an ass of myself. However, she got over it at last. "'Well,' said I, 'I hope you feel better.' "'Thanks, yea; but don't get into a temper. Will you promise to answer me one question?' "'Certainly; most happy. If you think it worth while to do any thing else but laugh at me, I ought to feel flattered.' "'Now, that's what I call temper, and you must be above such a thing. After all, I'm only a simple little girl, and you--that is, _it_ was so awfully absurd.' "And here she seemed about to burst forth afresh. But she didn't. "'What I was going to ask,' she began, in a very grave way, 'what I was going to ask is this, If it is a fair question, how many of these little entanglements do you happen to have just now?' "'Oh, Louie!' I began, in mournful and reproachful tones. "'Oh don't, don't,' she cried, covering her face, 'don't begin; I can't stand it. If you only knew how absurd you look when you are sentimental. You are always so funny, you know; and, when you try to be solemn, it looks so awfully ridiculous! Now, don't--I really cannot stand it. Please-ple-e-e-e-e-ease don't, like a good Captain Randolph.' "At this she clasped her hands and looked at me with such a grotesque expression of mock entreaty, that I knocked under, and burst out laughing. "She at once settled herself comfortably in her easy-chair. "'Now that's what I call,' said she, placidly, 'a nice, good, sensible, old-fashioned Captain Randolph, that everybody loves, and in whose affairs all his innumerable friends take a deep interest. And now let me ask my question again: How many?' "'How many what?' said I. "'Oh, you know very well.' "'How can I know, when you won't say what you mean?' "'How many entanglements?' "'Entanglements?' "'Yes. Engagements, if you wish me to be so very explicit.' "'What nonsense! Why you know all about it, and the cause--' "'Ah, now, that is not frank; it isn't friendly or honest,' said the little witch. 'Come, now. Are there as many as--as--fifty?' "'Nonsense!' "'Twenty, then?' "'How absurd!' "'Ten?' "'Of course not.' "'Five?' "'No.' "'Four?' "'Why, haven't I told you all?' "'Four,' she persisted. "'No--' "'Three, then--' "'It isn't fair,' said I,' to press a fellow this way.' "'Three?' she repeated. "I was silent. I'm not very quick, and was trying, in a dazed way, to turn it off. "'Three!' she cried. 'Three! I knew it. Oh, tell me all about it. Oh, do tell me! Oh, do--please tell me all. Oh, do, ple-e-e-ease tell me.' "And then she began, and she teased and she coaxed, and coaxed and teased, until at last--" Jack hesitated. "Well," said I. "Well," said he. "You didn't really tell her," said I. "Yes, but I did," said he. "You didn't--you couldn't." "I'll be hanged if I didn't!" "Not about Number Three?"