"'I shall be drowned--so let me drop.'
"'No, first you must make a confession to me.'
"'What confession?'
"'Why you do not like me.'
"I drew a deep breath. At the same time I felt that the soles of my feet were already being wetted by the surface of the water. He must not let me sink any lower. A delicious feeling of powerlessness came over me.
"'I do like you.' I said.
"'Then why do you give me such disagreeable answers?
"'Because I am a disagreeable creature.'
"'That is certainly plausible,' laughed he, and with rapid swing lifted me up like a feather so that I came to stand once more upon the stone. 'There, now sit down, we will talk sensibly.' Then he took my hand and continued: 'See, I am a simple fellow, have worked hard and given little thought to sharpening my wit. You with your quick little brain always kill me at the very first thrust, so that I have grown positively afraid of talking to you. I know you mean no harm, for it is not in our blood to be ill-natured; but all the same, it is not the proper thing. I am nearly twelve years older than you, and you almost a child yet. Am I right?'
"'You are right.' said I, dejectedly, wondering privately where my defiance had departed to.