He looked away from her. “Upon my word, there’s nothing to tell,” he said, but his tone was a little forced.
She broke into a merry peal of laughter, looking at him now with eyes that were derisive.
“What are you laughing at?” he asked.
“At you, Will,” said she. “What else could you imagine?”
“I’m flattered to think you find me so amusing.”
“Oh, you’re supremely amusing. ’Refrain thou shalt; thou shalt refrain!’ Is that your motto, Will? If I were a man, I’d choose another. ’Be bold, be bold, and everywhere be bold!’ That should be my motto if I were a man.”
“But as you’re a woman———” he began.
“It’s my motto, all the same,” she interrupted. “Do you mean to say you’ve not discovered that yet? Oh, Will, if I were you, and you were I, how differently we should be employing this heaven-sent summer’s afternoon.” She gazed at the sky, and sighed.
“What should we be doing?” asked he.
“That’s a secret. Pray the fairies to-night to transpose our souls, and you’ll know by to-morrow morning—if the fairies grant your prayer. But in the meanwhile, you must try to entertain me. Tell me another story.”