"You have been looking after me this morning, have you not, and
yesterday morning? And taking ever so much pains to be helpful and
entertaining, and now, all at once you say----Well, you know what you
said just now."

"Oh yes. Well, you see----"

"Oh, you can't get out of it, Mr. Morris. It was said, and with evident
sincerity."

"Then you really think you are pretty?" said Mr. Morris, looking at his
companion, who flushed under the remark.

"Ah, now," she said, "you imagine you are carrying the war into the
enemy's country. But I don't at all appreciate a remark like that. I
don't know but I dislike it even more than I do your compliments, which
is saying a good deal."

"I assure you," said Morris, stiffly, "that I have not intended to
pay any compliments. I am not a man who pays compliments."

"Not even left-handed ones?"

"Not even any kind, that I know of. I try as a general thing to speak
the truth."

"Ah, and shame your hearers?"

"Well, I don't care who I shame as long as I succeed in speaking the
truth."