“A Girl doesn’t like a man less because he respects her; nor more because he ridicules better men than himself.”

“Don’t be angry. I’m only saying what’s true. Why should I want to run him down?”

“I suppose—well, I suppose because——”

“Well?”

“You’re a little bit—but I don’t think I ought to talk about it.”

“Jealous, you were going to say.”

“Was I?”

“And that shows you know what I mean.”

“Well, by now I suppose I do. I can’t help your doing it or I would.”

Charlie moved closer, and leaning forward till his face was only a yard from hers, while his hand, sliding along the back of the seat, almost touched her, said in a low voice, “Are you sure you would?”