'You could never convince me of the sincerity of your passion unless you did something of the kind,' she replied.
'I assure you that it is quite out of fashion. Lovers now-a-days are much too middle-aged, and their joints are creaky. Besides it ruins the trousers.'
'I admit your last reason is overwhelming. No nice woman should ask a man to make his trousers baggy at the knees.'
'How could she love him if they were!' exclaimed Dick.
'But at all events there can be no excuse for your not saying that you know you are utterly unworthy of me.'
'Wild horses wouldn't induce me to make a statement which is so remote from the truth,' he replied coolly. 'I did it with my little hatchet.'
'And of course you must threaten to commit suicide if I don't consent. That is only decent.'
'Women are such sticklers for routine,' he sighed. 'They have no originality. They have a passion for commonplace, and in moments of emotion they fly with unerring instinct into the flamboyance of melodrama.'
'I like to hear you use long words. It makes me feel so grown up.'
'By the way, how old are you?' he asked suddenly.