“What are you trying to pretend, Wanza?”

“That I’m crazy about the big man. I ain’t.”

“Oh? Well, I really would have no right to object if you found him attractive. I dare say I have seemed rather dictatorial,” I answered chivalrously.

“And something else won’t do.”

“Pray tell me what it is.”

“It won’t do for you to pretend, either.”

“I? What do I pretend?”

She eyed me gravely, pulled a blade of grass, blew on it, and cast it aside.

“Lot of things,” she said then.

“Do I, Wanza?”