“What shall I say?” asked the Little Dancer. “My words do not please you.”
“I should not be displeased if you were to say ‘good-day’,” he replied. “It would only be polite, and I never find fault with politeness.”
“Good-day,” she said, as she practised her steps.
“Is that all?” he inquired.
“That is all,” she answered.
“I have a bit of news for you,” he said. “I am thinking of marrying the doll to whom the Red House belongs. It is a comfortable house, well built, and well appointed. You shall come and have tea with us.”
The Little Dancer burst into tears, and her feet moved more slowly.
“Why are you crying?” asked the Bicycle-man, with pretended surprise.
“Dear heart, Oh dear heart, I love you!” she wept.
“Well, well, so do many others,” he answered. “It isn’t my fault”