"Perhaps—for women." He did not ask of her any other dances. "But really, Leila, the better bred of these Southern girls we see here are most pleasant acquaintances, more socially easy of acquaintance than Northern girls. As they are butterflies of the hour—their frank ways are valuable in what you call our monastery."
"Yes, I know them well. There may be time here for some brief flirtations. I used to see them in Maryland, and once when Aunt Margaret took me on visits to some old Virginia homes. These pleasant girls take to it with no more conscience than birds in the spring. I used to see it in Maryland."
"Oh, yes," he said, "but it means very little;—quite harmless—mere practice, like our fencing bouts."
"Did you ever kiss a woman, John—just for practice?" "Why did I say that!" thought Leila. "Come, sir, confess!"
"Yes," he said, not liking it and far from any conception of the little mob of motives which betrayed to her a state of mind he had not the daring to guess. "Did I? That requires courage. Have I—ever kissed a woman? Yes, often—"
"Oh, I did not ask who."
"Aunt Ann—and a girl once—"
"Indeed!"
"Yes—Leila Grey, aged fifteen—and got my ears boxed. This confession being at an end, I want absolution." The air was cleared.
"How about the first polka as absolution?" said Leila.