"Do you think Evelyn very pretty?" asked Jean, with a child's directness. "Is that why you stare at so?"
Jem felt ruffled. His worst enemy could not lawfully accuse him of anything so objectionable as "staring."
"Rather a rude remark, Jean!"
"I don't mean to be rude. But you did," asserted Jean.
"I beg your pardon! Looking is not staring. A gentleman never stares."
"Do you think her very pretty?" repeated Jean, dropping what she counted an unimportant question.
"Yes. Don't you?"
"Not so much as some people."
Jem was amused. He planted himself with his back against a tree, and scanned curiously the straight supple child.
"Who is prettier than Miss Devereux, among your acquaintances?"