Please try and be yourself, won't you ?" "But how do you know what I am ?" she protested.

"Or even what I am like?
We have spoken only a few words.

Nothing has passed between us which could possibly have inspired you with such feelings as you speak of," she added, colouring slightly.

"It is a fancy of yours, quite too absurd a fancy.

Now that I find myself discussing it with you as though, indeed, we were talking of it seriously, I am inclined to laugh.