Yet, if she DID want to give him the opportunity of kissing her, and he failed to take advantage of it, what a ninny she would think him; she would despise him for being afraid.

He afraid! He, Annixter, afraid of a fool, feemale girl.

Why, he owed it to himself as a man to go as far as he could.

He told himself that that goat Osterman would have kissed Hilma Tree weeks ago.

To test his state of mind, he imagined himself as having decided to kiss her, after all, and at once was surprised to experience a poignant qualm of excitement, his heart beating heavily, his breath coming short.