"Your likes and dislikes are not"—
"A matter of interest to you? no, I suppose not. And you see that relieves me from considering yours. Take the present case, for instance. I feel like making eyes, as you rudely call it, at you: therefore I make them"—
"And make them very badly!" interpolated the well-bred Miss Bent.
"You are no judge, being by nature incapable of doing anything in the eye-making way at all."
"Ah!" said Miss Bent, reflectively, "there is no saying how well I might make eyes if I saw anything worth making eyes at. But, I say, don't be cross."
"I'm not!"
"No, of course not: but don't, anyway, for I want to tell you something and some way I can't talk to cross people"—
"But I tell you I'm not"—
"Dear, dear! there you are again with a face flaming with rage, interrupting me and contradicting me."
Mr. Ogden opened his mouth; then shut it with an air of determination, as though he really might have replied, had he chosen.