Not another word! That lead was lost!
"You are awfully fond of reading, aren't you?" Louise asked next.
"Oh, yes, very. Aren't you?"
And the book question was thus threatened to go the way of Grace's query.
"Yes, indeed," Louise hurried. "What sort of books do you like best?"
"Boys' books, and I suppose you like girls' books best," he replied.
Grace and Louise exchanged glances. Each was, no doubt, thinking they might next ask what shade of paper he liked to write on best. The reply would likely be quite as non-committal.
"How can we get over to the island?" Grace dared then. "We are just dying to explore that little Luna Land. It seems so romantic."
"I wouldn't advise you to visit there just now," he replied. "Nothing to see but woods, and rocks."
"Yet every one who goes over there seems so—so selfish about the woods and rocks, they keep telling us to stay away." Louise said this pleasantly enough, but she did say it, nevertheless.