"You must be simply crazy over me then! If you don't stop laughing I won't swing you any more."
"Oh, yes, do, it's lovely to swing back and forth in the moonlight like this. The May party was pretty, wasn't it?"
"You're just trying to change the subject. But I won't have it changed. Let's go back to it. Patty, couldn't you stop laughing at me long enough to learn to care for me a little?"
"How can I tell? I don't know how long it would take to learn to care for you a little. And, anyway, I do care for you a little,—but only a very, very little."
"Yes, I know that. You don't fool me any. You wouldn't care if you
NEVER saw me again."
"Why, Kit Cameron, I would SO! If I though I'd never see you again—I'd—I'd—I'd drown myself!"
"YES you WOULD! You little witch, how can you trifle with me like that, when my heart is just breaking for you?"
"Oh, come now, Kit, it isn't as bad as that! And let me tell you something. Do you know I think you are one of the very nicest friends I ever had, and I'm not going to have our friendship spoiled by any foolishness! So you might as well stop right where you are now. That is, if you're in earnest. If you're just talking foolishness on account of the moonlight—and all,—I don't mind. But I won't have you serious about it."
"All right, Poppycheek. I'm pretty serious, or I would be if you'd let me, but if you don't want it you shan't have it."
"Well, I don't. I don't want seriousness from anybody. And, anyway,
Kit, I'd be afraid of seriousness from you."