how much."

"Well, then----"

Walter laughed his laugh. "Cut it out," he bade her. "Alice
wouldn't run in fourth place."

Alice had been looking at him in a detached way, as though
estimating the value of a specimen in a collection not her own.
"Yes," she said, indifferently. "You REALLY are vulgar, Walter."

He had finished his meal; and, rising, he came round the table to
her and patted her good-naturedly on the shoulder. "Good ole
Allie!" he said. "HONEST, you wouldn't run in fourth place. If
I was you I'd never even start in the class. That frozen-face
gang will rule you off the track soon as they see your colours."

"Walter!" his mother said again.

"Well, ain't I her brother?" he returned, seeming to be entirely
serious and direct, for the moment, at least. "_I_ like the ole
girl all right. Fact is, sometimes I'm kind of sorry for her."

"But what's it all ABOUT?" Alice cried. "Simply because you met
me down-town with a man I never saw but once before and just
barely know! Why all this palaver?"

"'Why?'" he repeated, grinning. "Well, I've seen you start
before, you know!" He went to the door, and paused. "I got no
date to-night. Take you to the movies, you care to go."