“No; you are lying on my watch-chain. That’s right! Sing me something.”

“What shall I sing about?”

“About love!”

“First earn it, you rogue!”

Then all was quiet for a while. Presently Katie began to warble, softly,

“‘The nightingale on the lilac-bush
Sang night’s soft hours away;
I heard a crash, a gentle push,
My window-pane gave way!
“‘I ran to see the cause in haste,
At night’s soft witching hour,
And there I found a ladder placed—
A man stood by my bower.
La, la, la!’”

“Go on singing!”

“Oh no, it really is not proper.”

“Why, then, did you begin it?”

She giggled and was silent.