He glanced at her absently, rolling a morsel of wax; then, with
slight irritation which ended in a shrug, he motioned her to
descend.

After all, girls, like birds, were eternally eating. Except for
that, and incessant preening, existence meant nothing more important
to either species.

He had been busy for a few moments with the group when she said
something to him, and he looked around from his abstraction. She was
holding out toward him a chicken sandwich.

When his mind came back from wool gathering, he curtly declined the
offer, and, as an afterthought, bestowed upon her a wholly
mechanical smile, in recognition of a generosity not welcome.

"Why don't you ever eat luncheon?" she asked.

"Why should I?" he replied, preoccupied.

"It's bad for you not to. Besides, you are growing thin."

"Is that your final conclusion concerning me, Cecile?" he asked,
absently.

"Won't you please take this sandwich?"

Her outstretched arm more than what she said arrested his drifting
attention again.