"But you mustn't say such—such things," protested Mrs. West weakly.
"But, mother, when you were a girl and knew a nice man, didn't you want him to kiss you?"
"We never thought about such things. We——"
"Didn't you want father to kiss you?" persisted Dorothy.
"We were engaged, my dear, and your dear father was so——"
"But before you were engaged. Suppose father had tried to kiss you. What would you have done?"
The girl's eyes were on her mother, mischievous and challenging. A faint blush tinged Mrs. West's cheeks.
"I'll tell you what you'd have done, you dear, naughty little mother. You'd have pretended to be shocked, but in your heart you would have been glad, and you'd have lain awake all night thinking what an awful rip you had been." She nodded her head wisely.
"Sometimes," said Mrs. West after a pause, "I wish it had not been necessary for you to work. Girls seem so different nowadays from what they were when I was young."
"We are, you dear little mouse," smiled Dorothy. "We know a lot more, and to be forewarned is to be forearmed. I'm glad I didn't live when you had to faint at the sight of a mouse, or swoon when you were kissed. It would be such a waste," she added gaily.