"You surprise me! What have you read?"
"O, a little of everything. My father has a large book case, and I have a small collection of books, myself."
"Hm, hm," said the embryo secretary, "but enumerate to me some of the books you have read."
"Do you really wish to know?"
"Yes, dear Nanna,—pardon me—Mademoiselle Nanna I should have said. Now Mademoiselle, please be seated, the grass is quite soft. I wish to catechise you a little."
"But I shall not answer you, sir, if you call me Mademoiselle; it sounds so cold and disagreeable."
"Well, I will be careful not to do so; but let us make a commencement."
"With my qualifications?"
"Certainly; but why do you sit at such a distance?"
"We are not so far from each other."