"It was rather a piece of folly on my part," he said. "You know a man gets foolish at times, Mrs. Morton."
"Oh, Mrs. Morton!" exclaimed Madge. "How formal you are, Gregory! You were not nearly so formal yesterday. You were not nearly so formal when I met you alone."
Her eyes were on Juanita as she uttered these words. She saw the girl bite her lip.
"Eet ees a veree strange game thees baseball," said Juanita, turning to Teresa. "Do you understand eet?"
"Never mind her," said Madge Morton, pulling at Carker's sleeve. "Why do you pay her so much attention?"
"Do you wish to know?" he asked, in a low tone. "Then I'll tell you. I'm in love with her."
The woman looked at him with incredulous eyes, then threw back her head and laughed.
"More of your folly, Greg," she said. "You always were a silly chap. In love with that girl? Don't be foolish, my boy. She's nothing but a kid."
"I don't like that word kid."
"Oh, I suppose you think it very unladylike to use such slang. Children like this girl are amusing, but only unsophisticated boys and doddering old men fall in love with them. You're neither, Greg Carker."