"Y-yes," she admitted, "except when I have watched John Burleson.
But—this is simply rotten—childish—isn't it?"
"No," he said in a matter of fact tone, "it's interesting."
"Do you really think—mean—"
He looked down at her, considering her while the smile that she knew and liked best and thought best suited to his face, began to glimmer; that amused, boyish, bantering smile hinting of experience and wisdom delightfully beyond her.
"I really think that you're a very unusual girl," he said. "I don't want to spoil you by telling you so every minute."
"You don't spoil me by telling me so. Sometimes I think you may spoil me by not telling me so."
"Miss West! You're spoiled already! I'm throwing bouquets at you every minute! You're about the only girl who ever sat for me with whom I talk unreservedly and incessantly."
"Really, Mr. Neville?"
"Yes—really, Mr. Neville," he repeated, laughing—"you bad, spoiled little beauty! You know devilish well that if there's any intellectual space between you and me it's purely a matter of circumstance and opportunity."
"Do you think me silly enough to believe that!"