I don't pretend THAT!"

I was upset again. "Then you HAVE known him--?"

"Yes indeed, miss, thank God!"

On reflection I accepted this. "You mean that a boy who never is--?"

"Is no boy for ME!"

I held her tighter. "You like them with the spirit to be naughty?"
Then, keeping pace with her answer, "So do I!" I eagerly brought out.
"But not to the degree to contaminate--"

"To contaminate?"--my big word left her at a loss.
I explained it. "To corrupt."

She stared, taking my meaning in; but it produced in her an odd laugh.
"Are you afraid he'll corrupt YOU?" She put the question with such a fine
bold humor that, with a laugh, a little silly doubtless, to match her own,
I gave way for the time to the apprehension of ridicule.

But the next day, as the hour for my drive approached, I cropped
up in another place. "What was the lady who was here before?"

"The last governess? She was also young and pretty--
almost as young and almost as pretty, miss, even as you."

"Ah, then, I hope her youth and her beauty helped her!"
I recollect throwing off. "He seems to like us young and pretty!"