Ken realized that he was getting himself into a state of mind, that he was reviving those disturbing thoughts which had such power to make him miserable ... and he had been very happy with Andree. He had loved his happiness, and now he wanted it to persist. It had been something new in his life, very precious, very wonderful ... and he was not willing that it should be dimmed.
He stepped behind the girls and spoke.
Andree turned and smiled. “You shall go away,” she said. “We do not need you. You shall watch the parade while Miss Knox and myself make thees ver’ interesting talk. Yes?”
“What are you and Miss Knox talking about?”
“What should we be talking about?” asked Maude. “About ourselves, of course.”
“It is ver’ nice subjec’,” said Andree, with an impish twinkle.
“Let me come in. Talk about me, and I’ll listen.”
“Pouf!... You! If we talk about you, then you are ver’ angry.”
“Why?”
“Bicause we shall say the truth, and men want only to be praised. N’est-ce pas?... Oh, all men are greedy for praise. Oh, là là là là.”