"Is that because of your natural virtue or because you have never wanted to?"
"A little of both, I think. People fall in love at first sight. That can't be helped. Or they fall in love very quickly, and that's hard to help. But people who fall in love gradually through long association have no good excuse for doing so, if they oughtn't. They should see it coming and quit seeing each other before it's too late."
"But I don't agree," said Evelyn. "I think love is always a first-sight affair. I don't mean necessarily the first time two people see each other, but that suddenly after years of association even, they will see each other in a new light."
"A light that was never on sea or land?"
"A light that is always where people are, just waiting to be turned on."
At that moment we heard Dawson Cooper's voice calling: "Hallo there! Where are you?"
Presently he hove into sight, and did not seem altogether pleased at finding Evelyn and me together.
"Archie thought he was going to ride with Lucy," Evelyn explained, "but she threw him down, and I suppose we have got to ask him to ride with us!"
"Yes," I said, "I think you have, but I don't have to accept, do I? You're just doing it so's not to hurt my feelings, aren't you? Of course if you really want me——"
"Come along, Coops," said Evelyn. "He's trying to tease us. He wouldn't ride with us for a farm."