“Oh!” His ejaculation was rueful. Then he laughed, and squared his shoulders, and shook his finger at her.

“What’s the matter with me? Am I not good enough?”

“Too honorably good,” she declared, humbly.

“Then why does your family object to receiving me into its bosom, eh?”

“Because you jus’ barbarian,” she said, apologetically, and then swiftly tried to make amends. “Barbarian mos’ nize of all. Also I am liddle bit barbarian. I god them same barbarous eyes an’ oogly hair—”

“Loveliest hair in the world,” he said, stroking it fondly. “But never mind, dearie. Don’t look so distressed. It’s not your fault, of course, that your people disapprove of me.”

“They don’ dis’prove,” she interrupted him, her distress deepening. “They don’ never seen you even.”

“But I thought you said—”

“I jus’ guess. Tha’s why I don’ tell thad brudder. Mebbe he dis’prove you when he see you grade big barbarian. Tha’s bedder nod tell unto him.”

“But where does he think you are all the time?”