"Quite," said Miss Carter.
That settled it; I felt I must stop her at all costs. I cleared my throat and spoke as distinctly as I could.
"I'm always being asked a conundrum, Miss Carter, and you're the one person who can tell me the true answer. Am I permitted to ask it?"
"Quite," said Miss Carter, for the first time almost smiling. I plucked up courage.
"It's this: how old are you?"
She stopped herself just in time. Her answer was given in a tone which expressed at the same time her contempt for my breach of the conventions and the fact that she was too indifferent to think me worth snubbing.
"Twenty-two," said she.
"Quite," said I.
