"Are you?"

"I am; that's a fact. You know I spoke to you about going into the book business."

"Not lately."

"But I have been thinking about it all the time."

"What do your father and mother say?"

"O, they are all right."

"Have you asked them?"

"Certainly I have; they are willing I should go with you."

"Why didn't you speak of it then?"

"I thought I wouldn't say anything till the time came. You know you fought shy when I spoke about it before."