"If you would walk after dark—"
"I'm not a ghost; besides, I will not be ashamed to stand in the light."
"Then we might talk about something that means love," said George, who, being wound up for that sentence, was bound to finish it.
"Oh, George!" exclaimed one of the parrots.
"I wonder what it would be like," said Nellie, when she had done laughing.
"You teach those birds to say things," he muttered crossly.
"They are so intelligent. That one can say, 'Nellie's the belle of the ball.' Even that sort of compliment is better than none."
"I am thinking, Nellie, that you like chocolates. I had better get you some," George continued, believing it might be threepence well invested.
"That wouldn't be a bad idea."
"And you would take them as a compliment from me?"