"But he's in love, and he'll not be thinking of me. I'm the only one
in all Christendom, it seems to me, who is not in love with
somebody, and it's an awful hardship."

"You will fall really in love some day, never fear," she
volunteered, after a somewhat convulsive twist of the head in his
direction.

"Unquestionably," he said, "and I shall be just as happy and as
foolish as the rest of you, I presume."

"I should enjoy seeing you really and truly in love with some girl.
It would be so entertaining."

"A perfect comedy, I am sure. I must say, however, that I'd feel
sorry for the girl I loved if she didn't happen to love me."

"And why, pray?"

"Because," he said, turning abruptly and looking straight into her
eyes, "she'd have the trouble and distinction of surrendering in the
end."

"You vain, conceited thing!" she exclaimed, a trifle disconcerted.
"You overestimate your power."

"Do you think I overestimate it?" he demanded, quickly.

"I don t--don't know. How should I know?" she cried, in complete
rout. In deep chagrin she realized that he had driven her sharply