Her cheeks flushed a confused red.
"Oh, dear! That is, I mean--I like you, of course," she floundered miserably; then she broke off with a frank laugh.

"There! you see I never could get out of anything.

I might as well own right up.

I DON'T like you as well as I do Uncle William and Mr.Bertram.So there!" Cyril laughed.

For the first time since he had seen Billy, something that was very like interest came into his eyes.
"Oh, you don't," he retorted.