not whenever I want to; I don't expect so much!--but if you mean
that I can see you pretty often."

"Of course I'm in earnest," she said. "But before I say you can
come 'pretty often,' I'd like to know how much of my time you'd
need if you did come 'whenever you want to'; and of course you
wouldn't dare make any answer to that question except one.
Wouldn't you let me have Thursdays out?"

"No, no," he protested. "I want to know. Will you let me come
pretty often?"

"Lean toward me a little," Alice said. "I want you to
understand." And as he obediently bent his head near hers, she
inclined toward him as if to whisper; then, in a half-shout, she
cried,

"YES!"

He clapped his hands. "By George!" he said. "What a girl you
are!"

"Why?"

"Well, for the first reason, because you have such gaieties as
that one. I should think your father would actually like being
ill, just to be in the house with you all the time."

"You mean by that," Alice inquired, "I keep my family cheerful
with my amusing little ways?"