tening afresh at this recurrence to her departure,
and made no answer. He slashed along vigorously for two or three yards,
cutting a wide swathe with his umbrella, and then his grievance appeared
somewhat appeased, and he explained in a milder tone:

"I ask you why are women like that,--like that, that they never will
like to be kissed?"

Rosina halted in astonishment.

"What is it now?" he asked, turning because he missed her. "Have I not
yet made myself plain?"

"The idea--after all this while--of your going back to that subject!"

"I have not go back to it," he said coolly; "I have thought of no other
thing while you were booting yourself or now. Why do women say 'No'? Why
do you say 'No'?"

"Let me see," she said thoughtfully. "I think it is like this: if I
allowed you to, you would naturally feel that hereafter you could,
whereas I very much prefer that you should know that you can't."

He looked in a despair so complete as to be almost ludicrous.

"Oh, say slower," he pleaded, earnestly. "It is so very important to
well understand."

She laughed at his serious face. For the moment Jack and Genoa were both
forgotten, and nothing but the pleasure of good company and an
atmosphere breathing the perfume that follows rain where there are
flowers, were left to joy her.

"It isn't worth repeating slower," she said, with a smile. "It was a
positive negative which even if developed in a dark room would make a
proof that I did not want to be kissed."

They went the entire length of the arcade while he endeavored to work
out the solution of her second riddle, and then he shrugged his
shoulders, remarking:

"I have never interest myself in a kodak any," and appeared to regard
the subject as finished.

They came back up the arcade, and, the sidewalks being now fairly dry,
went out under the stairway at the corner, into the Galleriestrasse.

"Do you like this country?" he asked presently.

"Bavaria? Immensely."

"I mean, do you like the Continent--Europe?"

"Yes."

"What do think about it?"

"I think Europa showed great good taste in getting down from the bull
just where she did."

"Then you like this land?"

"I love it! It hurts me whenever I hear my countrymen malign it."

They were in the Ludwigsstrasse, and the scene was like a holiday in
America. Every one was out after the rain and all faces reflected that
exuberant gayety which seems to be born about five o'clock in each
continental city. Pe