‘Did we? And when?’
‘When we gave up climbing cherry-trees, and ceased to pull each other’s hair when we were angry.’
‘Oh dear!’ said he drearily, as his head sank heavily.
‘You seem to sigh over those blissful times, Mr. O’Shea,’ said she, ‘as if they were terribly to be regretted.’
‘So they are. So I feel them.’
‘I never knew before that quarrelling left such pleasant associations.’
‘My memory is good enough to remember times when we were not quarrelling—when I used to think you were nearer an angel than a human creature—ay, when I have had the boldness to tell you so.’
‘You don’t mean that?’
‘I do mean it, and I should like to know why I should not mean it?’
‘For a great many reasons—one amongst the number, that it would have been highly indiscreet to turn a poor child’s head with a stupid flattery.’