"Yes," said Selwyn lazily, "there are all kinds of kinds. You remember that beautiful nature-poem:
"'The sea-gull
And the eagul
And the dipper-dapper-duck
And the Jew-fish
And the blue-fish
And the turtle in the muck;
And the squir'l
And the girl
And the flippy floppy bat
Are differ-ent
As gent from gent.
So let it go at that!'"
"What hideous nonsense," she laughed, in open encouragement; but he could recall nothing more—or pretended he couldn't.
"You asked me," he said, "whether I know Sudbury Gray. I do, slightly. What about him?" And he waited, remembering Nina's suggestion as to that wealthy young man's eligibility.
"He's one of the nicest men I know," she replied frankly.
"Yes, but you don't know 'Boots' Lansing."
"The gentleman who was bucked out of his footwear? Is he attractive?"
"Rather. Shrieks rent the air when 'Boots' left Manila."
"Feminine shrieks?"
"Exclusively. The men were glad enough. He has three months' leave this winter, so you'll see him soon."