“In dead—in dead—” he stammered hopelessly; “oh,” he exclaimed, “perhaps it is that I am really stupid, after all.”
“No, no,” she laughed; “it is I that am behaving badly. It amuses me to tease you by using words that you do not understand.”
“But that is not very nice of you,” he said, smiling. “Why do you want to tease me?”
“I don’t know, but I do.”
He laughed lightly.
“We amuse ourselves together, n’est-ce pas?” he asked. “It is like children to laugh and not know why. I find such pleasure very pleasant. One cannot be always wise—above all, with a woman.”
“I do not want to be wise,” she said, as they joined the promenading crowd; “I much prefer to have my clothes fit well.”
Then he laughed outright.
“Vous êtes si drôle!” he said apologetically.
“Oh, I don’t mind your laughing,” she said, “but I do wish that you would walk on the other side.”