"No; you like people to admire you, and you take a good deal of trouble to ensure this result: but you are not in the least exigeante. I don't think you'd expect to be first with a person unless that person was first with you; and then, of course, you'd have a right to expect it."
"That is quite true; how well you understand me! I don't want men to go in jeopardy of their lives by fetching water for me from the wells of Bethlehem; but I do want them to be ready and willing to take me down to supper at balls, and to bring me refreshments at evening parties."
Paul smiled. "You appear to be a wonderfully reasonable woman."
"I'm so glad you think that! I always consider my 'sweet reasonableness' one of my strong points."
"But it is only because you don't really care," continued Paul, "the minute you begin to care, you'll be as unreasonable as the rest of them."
Isabel frowned. "How horrid you are!"
"Am I? I'm sorry for that. But it grieves my righteous soul to see you hugging your negligences and ignorances, and mistaking them for virtues."
"I wish you were not so nasty!" sighed Isabel; "when you are as nasty as this, it makes a walk with you a toil instead of a pleasure."
"Well, don't make it a danger instead of a toil; which you will do if you walk on that damp grass."
"I shall walk on the damp grass as long as you are disagreeable."