"It's the most delicate lavender," cried Elsie, in fresh shrieks of ecstasy at Tom's blindness. "Oh, I never saw such a stupid in all my life."
Tom rubbed his forehead for an instant, then Elsie's laughter proved so contagious that he burst into merriment as hearty as her own.
"I don't suppose," said Tom, "there's such an idiot on the face of the earth as I am."
"I really don't suppose there is," replied Elsie, candidly.
"It is absolutely beyond belief," said Tom.
"It is," answered Elsie.
"And I shall never be any better," cried Tom.
"I have told you so a thousand times," rejoined Elsie, humming a tune, inclined to perfect truthfulness for once.
Tom's face lengthened for an instant, he gave his hair another unmerciful combing with his fingers.
"And you think there's not the least help for it?"