I don't mean to say that I don't have a splendid time with the others even when I have to watch them; I do--and even the watching is fun--" The child-like audacity and laughing frankness, the confidence of her attitude toward him were delightfully refreshing.

He looked into her pretty, eager, engaging face, smiling, captivated.
"Valerie," he said, "tell me something--will you ?" "Yes, if I can." "I'm more or less of a painting machine.

I've made myself so, deliberately--to the exclusion of other interests.

I wonder"-- he looked at her musingly--"whether I'm carrying it too far for my own good." "I don't understand." "I mean--is there anything machine-made about my work?
Does it lack--does it lack anything ?" "No!" she said, indignantly loyal.

"Why do you ask me that ?" "People--some people say it does lack--a certain quality." She said with supreme contempt: "You must not believe them.