“Of course not, sir.”
“Well, men are men, and women are women.”
“Yes, sir,” said the lad, smiling.
“And we don’t want to frighten them by letting them see that we are always going to the magazine. See what I mean?”
“Yes, sir. You mean, not let them know that you have any doubts about our position here.”
“Good. I went a roundabout way to put it before you, but you have hit the right nail clean on the head at once. We want to make their lives as sunshiny as we can, and not try to point out clouds where as likely as not there are none.”
“Of course not, sir.”
“Right, Archie. A quiet, thoughtful man would, of course, be careful not to discuss matters before our womenkind that might have an alarming tendency.”
“And you think I, a boy, might, sir?” said Archie, frowning heavily.
“Yes,” said the Doctor; “but not after such a broad hint as I am giving you now, my lad;” and he leaned forward and patted his visitor upon the knee.