When you talk about cries it brings the cries, and when you talk about laughs the laughs come, and Miss Ann is so pretty when she laughs." "Miss Ann is pretty all the time," announced gallant Worth.

"She has a mouth like--a mouth like--She has a mouth like--" "Yes dear, I understand.

When they say 'She has a mouth like--a mouth like--' I know just what kind of mouth they mean." "But how do you know, Aunt Kate?
I didn't say what kind, did I ?" "No; but as years and wisdom and guile descend upon you, you will learn that sometimes the surest way of making one's self clear is not to say what one means." "But I don't see--" "No, one doesn't--at six.

Wait till you've added twenty thereto." "Aunt Kate ?" "Yes ?" "How old is Miss Ann ?" "Worth, when this twenty I'm talking about has been added on, you will know that never, never, _never_ must one speak or think or dream of a lady's age." "Why not ?" "Oh, because it brings the cries--lots of times." He had seated himself on the floor.

The puppy was in spasms of excitement over the discovery of a considerable expanse of bare legs.
"Are they sorry they're not as old as somebody else ?" he asked, trying to get his legs out of the puppy's lurching reach.
"No, they're usually able to endure the grief brought them by that thought." "Aunt Kate ?" "Oh--_yes_ ?" It was a good story.
"Would Miss Ann be sorry she's not as old as you ?" "Hateful, ungrateful little wretch!" "Aunt Kate ?" "I am all attention, Wayneworth," she said, with inflection which should not have been wasted on ears too young.
"Do you know, Aunt Kate, sometimes I don't know just what you're talking about." "No?
Really?
And this from your sex to mine!" "Do you always say what you mean, Aunt Kate ?" "Very seldom." "Why not ?" "Somebody might find out what I thought." "Don't you want them to know what you think, Aunt Kate ?" he pursued, making a complete revolution and for the instant evading the frisking puppy.
"Certainly not." "But why not, Aunt Kate ?"--squirming as the puppy placed a long warm lick right below the knee.
"Oh, I don't know." The story was getting better.