Defiant, smiling, her resentment was, after all, only partly real.
"We are becoming friends much too quickly to suit me," she said deliberately.
"But not half quickly enough to suit me," I said.
"Do you fancy that I take that silly speech as compliment, Mr. Renault?"
"Ah, no, madam! On such brief acquaintance I dare not presume to offer you the compliments that burn for utterance!"
"But you do presume to plague me—on such brief acquaintance!" she observed.
"I am punished," I said contritely.
"No, you are not! You are not punished at all, because I don't know how to, and—I am not sure I wish to punish you, Mr. Renault."
"Madam?"
"If you look at me so meekly I shall laugh. Besides, it is hypocritical. There is nothing meek about you!" I bowed more meekly than ever.