"Well, there's her brother. I was introduced to him the other day at Mrs. Leo Hunter's. But he seems such a reticent chap. Only opens his mouth twice an hour, and then merely to show his teeth. Oh, I know! I'll get at the Moon man. My aunt, the philanthropist, who is quite a journalist (sends so many paragraphs round about herself, you know), will tell me who invents that sort of news, and I'll interview the beggar."
"Yes, won't it be fun to run her to earth?" said Lillie gleefully.
Silverdale took advantage of her good-humor.
"I hope the discovery of the baseness of your sex will turn you again to mine." There was a pleading tenderness in his eyes.
"What! to your baseness? I thought you were so good."
"I am no good without you," he said boldly.
"Oh, that is too rich! Suppose I had never been born?"
"I should have wished I hadn't."
"But you wouldn't have known I hadn't."
"You're getting too metaphysical for my limited understanding."