belong to the dangerous classes,' Paul answered. 'I'm much
likelier to suffer myself than to make you suffer.'

'Oh, I'm not talking about me,' said Claudia. 'I'm thinking of the other
ladies.'

'There are no other ladies,' Paul declared. 'There never will be any
other ladies. There is only one lady in the whole world for me.'

'Now, seriously, Paul, how long do you think this ridiculous infatuation
for me is going to last?'

'For ever!' cried Paul boldly. 'For ever and ever. And it isnt an
infatuation, Claudia. It's a perfectly reasonable thing to fall in love
with you. Why, you can't walk down the street without half a dozen men
doing it I know how they turn round to look at you.'

'Oh, you outrageous little flatterer! Wherever did you learn to tell
such fascinating fibs?'

'They're not fibs, Claudia. You know it as well as I do And I'll tell
you something. You ask me why I love you. I'm a judge of character.'

'Oh, you dreadful boy! You're not going to judge my character, I hope!'

'I did that long ago,' said Paul, 'and that is why I fell in love with
you. No,' he broke off, blushing and stammering, 'that is not why I fell
in love; but that is why I never wanted to climb out again.'

'Well,' said Claudia gaily, 'if you didn't fall in love with my
character, I'm sure I don't know what else there is.'

'You,' said Paul rapturously. 'Your beauty, Claudia. Don't you ever look
in the glass?'

'How do you think I am to do my hair?' she asked, laughing. 'But
seriously, now, Paul, you don't think I'm a beauty? You never told me
that before.'

'Claudia,' he said, reproaching her, 'I've told you a thousand times.'

'Oh yes,' said Claudia, 'in fun. But now, without nonsense--really? Am I
pretty?'

'No; you're not pretty, Claudia. Pretty's commonplace. You are lovely. I
think you are the most beautiful woman in the world.'

'You darling boy! There's a kiss for that. No, no, no, Paul. Only a very
little one. But I'm not so silly as to believe you, Paul.'

'Claudia,' said Paul--they had reached by this time to the brotherly and
sisterly attitude, and sat on the couch together, with the sisterly arm
round Paul's neck--' I was bitterly sorry to leave old Darco, and to let
him think that I was ungrateful. I know how much he has done for me.'

'I am sure I am not sorry to leave Darco,' she said. 'Grumpy, frumpy,
stumpy, dumpy old German! I hate him!'

'Don't say that,' said Paul. 'There's as kind a heart under old