"Why do you say that ?" "I don't know," he stammered confusedly.

How could he tell her?
"A moment ago you seemed well pleased with what you'd done." "Well, I guess I went too far.

I wasn't very polite." "You never are." "I'm going to try to do better....

No, I don't think it would be wise for me to go and apologize to her." She was looking at him strangely.

"Why are you so anxious to conciliate her ?" He saw what a break he had made, became all at once red and inarticulate.
"What is she to you ?" persisted the girl.
"Nothing at all," he blustered.