"Why? Do you think it was so very long ago?" Mrs. Goddard laughed.
"No—I cannot believe you ever had any," said John.
The boyish compliment pleased Mrs. Goddard. It was long since any one had flattered her, for flattery did not enter into the squire's system for making himself agreeable.
"Do they teach that sort of thing at Cambridge?" she asked demurely.
"What sort of thing?"
"Making little speeches to ladies," said she.
"No—I wish they did," said John, laughing. "I should know much better how to make them. We learn how to write Greek odes to moral abstractions."
"What a dreadful thing to do!" exclaimed Mrs. Goddard.
"Do you think so? I do not know. Now, for instance, I have written a great many Greek odes to you—"
"To me?" interrupted his companion in surprise.