"Honest?" asked Johnnie, struck by the conviction with which this speech
was uttered. "Honest, is that so?"

"Yes, 'honest'!" William replied, sharply. "They could ALL die, _I_
wouldn't notice!"

Johnnie Watson was profoundly impressed. "Why, _I_ didn't know you felt
that way about 'em, Silly Bill. I always thought you were kind of--"

"Well, I do feel that way about 'em!" said William Sylvanus Baxter, and,
outraged by the repetition of the offensive nickname, he began to move
away. "You can tell 'em so for me, if you want to!" he added over his
shoulder. And he walked haughtily up the street, leaving Mr. Watson to
ponder upon this case of misogyny, never until that moment suspected.

It was beyond the power of his mind to grasp the fact that William
Sylvanus Baxter's cruel words about "girls" had been uttered because
William was annoyed at being called "Silly Bill" in a public place, and
had not known how to object otherwise than by showing contempt for any
topic of conversation proposed by the offender. This latter, being of
a disposition to accept statements as facts, was warmly interested,
instead of being hurt, and decided that here was something worth talking
about, especially with representatives of the class so sweepingly
excluded from the sympathies of Silly Bill.

William, meanwhile, made his way toward the "residence section" of the
town, and presently--with the passage of time found himself eased of his
annoyance. He walked in his own manner, using his shoulders to emphasize
an effect of carelessness which he wished to produce upon observers. For
his consciousness of observers was abnormal, since he had it whether any