"Am I, Charmian?"
"And so very solemn and austere, and so ponderous, and egotistical, and calm—yes, you are hatefully calm and placid, aren't you, Peter?"
And, after I had smoked thoughtfully awhile, I sighed.
"Yes, I fear I may seem so."
"Oh, I forgive you!"
"Thank you."
"Though you needn't be so annoyingly humble about it," said she, and frowned, and, even while she frowned, laughed and shook her head.
"And pray, why do you laugh?"
"Because—oh, Peter, you are such a—boy!"
"So you told me once before," said I, biting my pipe-stem viciously.