"Haven't you heard anyone else talk like that?"
"What I was thinking of was, that you, of all people, should preach revolt against accepted ideas. I always thought you so straitlaced."
"Never mind about me."
"But I do. If you believe all you say, why do you go to church and all that?"
"What does it matter to anyone what an ugly person like me thinks or does?"
"Anyway, you're quite interesting to me."
"Really: really interesting?" asked Miss Toombs, with an inflection of genuine surprise in her voice.
"Why should I say so if I didn't think so?"
A flush of pleasure overspread the plain woman's face as she said:
"I believe you're speaking the truth. If ever I play the hypocrite, it's because I'm a hopeless coward."