'What nonsense you talk!' she exclaimed. They are the most delightful persons in the world.'
'Your friendships are quickly made, Jessie,' I said, with a jealous pang.
'Directly I see persons I know whether I like them or not. Don't you?'
'I can't say,' I replied sententiously; 'I have never considered it.'
'Well, consider it now. Don't be disagreeable. Directly you saw me, didn't you like me?'
'Oh, yes.'
'Very well, then; that shows you do make up your mind properly about these things, as a man ought to do.'
I thrilled with pleasure at this cunning compliment.
'But you are different, Jessie, from any one else.' (What I really wanted to say was, 'You are different in my eyes from any one else;' but the most important words oozed away, from my want of courage.)
'Am I?' she cried softly and complacently, as was her way when she felt she was about to be flattered. How different? In what way? Tell me.'