The young man held out one of his drawings, with his head on one side.
His tongue was gently moving along his under-lip. "Good-natured--yes.
Too good-natured--no."

"You are irritating," said the lady, looking at her slipper.

He began to retouch his sketch. "I think you mean simply that you are
irritated."

"Ah, for that, yes!" said his companion, with a little bitter laugh. "It
's the darkest day of my life--and you know what that means."

"Wait till to-morrow," rejoined the young man.

"Yes, we have made a great mistake. If there is any doubt about it
to-day, there certainly will be none to-morrow. Ce sera clair, au
moins!"

The young man was silent a few moments, driving his pencil. Then at
last, "There are no such things as mistakes," he affirmed.

"Very true--for those who are not clever enough to perceive them. Not
to recognize one's mistakes--that would be happiness in life," the lady
went on, still looking at her pretty foot.

"My dearest sister," said the young man, always intent upon his drawing,
"it 's the first time you have told me I am not clever."

"Well, by your own theory I can't call it a mistake," answered his
sister, pertinently enough.