"You ain't reading that book at all," she said.

"I have been watching you, and you 'ain't turned a single page since I spoke last." "I don't see why I should," returned Henry.

"I don't see why anybody but a fool should ever open the book, to begin with." "What is the book ?" Henry looked at the title-page.

"It is Whatever, by Mrs.Fane Raymond," he said, absently.
"I've heard it was a beautiful book." "Most women would like it," said Henry.

"It seems to be a lot written about a fool woman that didn't know what she wanted, by another fool woman who didn't know, either, and was born cross-eyed as to right and wrong." "Why, Henry Whitman, it ain't true!" "I suppose it ain't." "No book is true--that is, no story." "If it ain't true, so much the less reason to tell such a pack of stupid lies," said Henry.