And he said he had
hi--he wasn't convinced.

Martin: Did he really say that? These men can no more talk straight
than throw straight. Can you talk straight, Jessica?

Jessica: Yes, Martin.

Martin: Then tell me what your apple-tree has to do with my story.

Jessica: Bother. All right. Because wisdom and beauty and courage and
laughter can all be measured in pint-pots. And any or all of these
things can be dipped out of a fountain. You thought I didn't know, but
I do know.

Martin: (Take care!) Where did you get all this knowledge?

Jessica: And that was why Margaret could take what she took from Lionel
and Hugh and Heriot and Ambrose, because it was something measurable.
Yes, because even a gay spirit can be sad at times, and a strong nerve
weak, and a beautiful face ugly, and a clever brain dull. But when it
came to taking what Hobb had, she could take and take without
exhausting it, and give and give and always have something left to
give, because that wasn't measurable. And the tree is the tree, and
love is never anything else but love.

Martin: Oh, Jessica! who has been your schoolmaster?

Jessica: And so when she threw away her four pints what did it matter,
any more than when the tree loses its leaves, or its flowers, or snaps
a twig, or drops its apples? For though nobody else thought them lovely
or clever or witty or splendid, she and Hobb were so to each other for
ever and ever; because--

Martin: Because?

Jessica: It doesn't matter. I've told you enough, and you thought I
couldn't tell you anything, and I simply hated saying it, but you
thought I couldn't throw straight and I can, and your riddle was as
simple as pie.

Martin: (Look out, I tell you!) You have thrown as straight as a die.
And now I will ask you a straight question. Will you give me your key
to Gillian's prison?

Jessica: Yes.

Martin: Because you dreaded lest Hobb's rose was blighted for ever?

Jessica: No. Because it's a shame she should be there at all.

And she gave him the key.

Martin: You honest dear.

Jessica: You thought I was going to beg the question--didn't you,
Martin?

Martin: Put in your tongue, or--

Jessica: Or what?

Martin: You know what.

Jessica: I don't know what.

Martin: Then you must take the consequences.

And she took the consequences on both cheeks.

Jessica: Oh! Oh, if I had guessed you meant that, do you suppose for a
moment that I would have--?

Martin: You dishonest de