“Indeed I am, though. I quite hated him for five minutes at least.”
“But what did he do?”
“Why, he taunted me with being too civil to everybody, and it made me so angry. He said I pretended to take an interest in ever so many things, just to please people, when I didn't really care about them. And it isn't true, now, Katie, is it?”
“No, dear. He never could have said that. You must have misunderstood him.”
“There, I knew you would say so. And if it were true, I'm sure it isn't wrong. When people talk to you, it 's so easy to seem pleased and interested in what they are saying; and then they like you, and it is so pleasant to be liked. Now, Katie, do you ever snap people's noses off, or tell them you think them very foolish, and that you don't care, and that what they are saying is all of no consequence?”
“I, dear? I couldn't do it to save my life.”
“Oh, I was sure you couldn't. And he may say what he will, but I am quite sure he would not have been pleased if we had not made ourselves pleasant to his friends.”
“That's quite true. He has told me himself half a dozen times how delighted he was to see you so popular.”
“And you too, Katie?”
“Oh yes. He was very well pleased with me. But it is you who have turned all the heads in the college, Mary. You are Queen of St. Ambrose beyond a doubt just now.”