"Oh! really!"

"With all that to do, can you expect me to be bored?" said Lialia
contentedly.

"Well, anyhow, everything bores me," replied Yourii involuntarily. She
pretended to be hurt.

"That's very nice of you, I am sure. You've hardly been two hours in
the house, and asleep most of the time, yet you are bored already!"

"It is not my fault, but my misfortune," replied Yourii, in a slightly
arrogant tone. He thought it showed superior intelligence to be bored
rather than amused.

"Your misfortune, indeed!" cried Lialia, mockingly. "Ha! Ha!" She
pretended to slap him. "Ha! Ha!"

Yourii did not perceive that he had already recovered his good humour.
Lialia's merry voice and her joy of living had speedily banished his
depression which he had imagined to be very real and deep. Lialia did
not believe in his melancholy, and therefore his remarks caused her no
concern.

Yourii looked at her, and said with a smile.

"I am never merry."

At this Lialia laughed, as though he had said something vastly droll.