"Twenty-three!"

"What a delectable age! The same as your own. But if you're taking
Miss Rosser a present," he added, "how is it you are on the way home?"

"Jimmy, you make me tired," said Carrissima. "I wish you wouldn't ask
so many questions."

"I can't help it," he replied. "An inquiring turn of mind, you know.
I haven't forgotten that Sybil is to pay your friend a visit directly
she gets back."

"Indeed, there is not the slightest necessity," said Carrissima.

"Hullo! so you've changed your mind?"

"I suppose that is allowable."

"Where does she live?" Jimmy persisted.

"Wild horses wouldn't drag her address from me!" cried Carrissima,
laughing quite cheerfully, "and kindly give me back the card-case."

He came to a standstill close to Colonel Faversham's house as he put it
back in her hand.

"Now, I'm off," he said. "That's all I was waiting for."

"What?" asked Carrissima.