This was undeniable, and Fred felt that he had scored a point.

Betty was reduced to the defensive.

“I wouldn’t want to be,” she rejoined rather feebly.

Fred cast a proud look around.

“Sour grapes!” he ejaculated.

Then, elated by his success, he sought rather imprudently to follow it up.

“As for me,” he declared, “I wouldn’t care how hard I was hit. I’d only laugh.”

Betty saw an opening.

“You wouldn’t dare let me throw one at you,” she challenged, her eyes dancing.

Fred went into pretended convulsions.