xt few
moments, while they were eating the last of their cheese, his good
spirits fell rapidly away from him. He heaved a sigh, and thrust both
hands gloomily into his pockets.

"Cheese, Condy?" asked Travis.

He shook his head with a dark frown, muttering: "No cheese, no cheese."

"What's wrong, Condy--what's the matter?" asked Travis, with concern.

For some time he would not tell her, answering all her inquiries by
closing his eyes and putting his chin in the air, nodding his head in
knowing fashion.

"But what is it?"

"You don't respect me," he muttered; and for a long time this was all
that could be got from him. No, no, she did not respect him; no, she
did not take him seriously.

"But of course I do. Why don't I? Condy Rivers, what's got into you
NOW?"

"No, no; I know it. I can tell. You don't take me seriously. You
don't respect me."

"But why?"

"Make a blooming buffoon of myself," he mumbled tragically.

In great distress Travis labored to contradict him. Why, they had just
been having a good time, that was all. Why, she had been just as silly
as he. Condy caught at the word.

"Silly! There. I knew it. I told you. I'm silly. I'm a
buffoon.--But haven't we had a great afternoon?" he added, with a
sudden grin.

"I never remember," announced Travis emphatically, "when I've had a
better time than I've had to-day; and I know just why it's been such a
success."

"Why, then?"

"Because we've had no foolishness. We've just been ourselves, and
haven't pretended we were in love with each other when we are not.
Condy, let's do this lots."

"Do what?"

"Go round to queer little, interesting little places. We've had a
glorious time to-day, haven't we?--and we haven't been talked out once.

"As we were last night, for instance," he hazarded.

"I THOUGHT you felt it, the same as I did. It WAS a bit awful wasn't
it?"

"It was."

"From now on, let's make a resolution. I know you've had a good time
to-day. Haven't you had a better time than if you had gone to the
Tea?'"

"Well, RATHER. I don't know when I've had a better, jollier afternoon."

"Well, now, we're going to try to have lots more good times, but just
as chums. We've tried the other, and it failed. Now be sincere;
didn't it fail?"

"It worked out. It DID work out."

"Now from this time on, no more foolishness. We'll just be chums."

"Chums it is. No more foolishness."

"The moment you begin to pretend y