continued: "Beyond question _it_ should be stopped, since you say so.
_It_ is neuter, and as neutral things are highly objectionable, stop
_it_ by all means."

"I mean Mr. Stirling--" began Mrs. Pierce.

"Yes?" interrupted Mr. Pierce, in an encouraging, inquiring tone. "Peter
is certainly neuter. I think one might say negative, without gross
exaggeration. Still, I should hardly stop him. He finds enough
difficulty in getting out an occasional remark without putting a stopper
in him. Perhaps, though, I mistake your meaning, and you want Peter
merely to stop here a little longer."

"I mean, dear," replied Mrs. Pierce, with something like a tear in her
voice, for she was sadly wanting in a sense of humor, and her husband's
jokes always half frightened her, and invariably made her feel inferior
to him, "I mean his spending so much time with Helen. I'm afraid he'll
fall in love with her."

"My dear," said Mr. Pierce, "you really should be a professional
mind-reader. Your suggestion comes as an awful revelation to me. Just
supposing he should--aye--just supposing he has, fallen in love with
Helen!"

"I really think he has," said Mrs. Pierce, "though he is so different
from most men, that I am not sure."

"Then by all means we must stop him. By the way, how does one stop a
man's falling in love?" asked Mr. Pierce.