and sandwiches, I brought out my gleaned and arranged knowledge which
rang out across the distance, comically, like a lecture. She, at her
counter, now and then busy with her ledger, received it with the
attentive solemnity of a lecture. The ledger might have been notes that
she was dutifully and improvingly taking. After I had finished she wrote
on for a little while in silence. The curly white dog rose into sight,
looked amiably and vaguely about, stretched himself, and sank to sleep
again out of sight.

"That's all?" she asked abruptly.

"So far," I answered.

"And what do you think of such a young man?" she inquired.

"I know what I think of such a young woman."

She was still pensive. "Yes, yes, but then that is so simple."

I had a short laugh. "Oh, if you come to the simplicity!"

She nodded, seeming to be doing sums with her pencil.

"Men are always simple--when they're in love."

I assented. "And women--you'll agree?--are always simple when they're
not!"

She finished her sums. "Well, I think he's foolish!" she frankly stated.
"Didn't Aunt Josephine think so, too?"