“A polite executioner is a great mitigation,” I observed.
“Really, you know, Alice is the acme of graceful perversity. I think that if I were a man I should rather be rejected by Alice than accepted by some others.”
“That is an equivocal compliment to her, for the man who really gets her, who carries her off before she has a chance to engage herself to any one else—”
“Oh, the man who actually gets her will be made very happy.”
“That is real faith.”
“The curious thing is that Alice is not a flirt at all. She certainly will make a charming and loyal wife for some fellow.”
“You won’t mind if I remain incredulous on that point?”
“You are a man.”
