“Have one?” he asked.

“No, thank you; I don’t smoke.”

“Don’t smoke!” repeated Felix, in apparent amusement. “You don’t mean that?”

“I never smoked a cigarette in my life.”

“Then it’s high time you learned. All boys smoke in the city.”

“I don’t think I should like it.”

“Oh, nonsense! Just try one for my sake.”

“Thank you, Felix. You are very kind, but I promised mother I wouldn’t smoke.”

“Your mother lives in the country, doesn’t she?”

“Yes.”