"Yes. I am afraid of listening just to my own pleasure."
"You shall not," said he, laughing. "Listen to mine. I want to see your eyes open at the Jung Frau, and Mont Blanc."
"My eyes open easily at anything," said Lois, yielding to the laugh;—"they are such ignorant eyes."
"Very wise eyes, on the contrary! for they know a thing when they see it."
"But they have seen so little," said Lois, finding it impossible to get back to a serious demeanour.
"That sole defect in your character, I propose to cure."
"Ah, do not praise me!"
"Why not? I used to rejoice in the remembrance that you were not an angel but human. Do you know the old lines?—
'A creature not too bright and good
For human nature's daily food;
For transient sorrows, simple wiles,
Praise, blame, love, kisses, tears and smiles.'
Only 'wiles' you never descend to; 'blame' is not to be thought of; if you forbid praise, what is left to me but the rest of it?"