"Just think," she added with a laugh, "only one and twenty! Why when I was one and twenty I was--" she stopped short.
"What were you doing then ?" asked John, trying not to seem too curious.
"I was living in London," she said quietly.

She half enjoyed his disappointment.
"Yes," he said, "I daresay.

But what--well, I suppose I ought not to ask any questions." "Certainly not," said she.

"It is very rude to ask a lady questions about her age." "I do not mean to be rude again," said John, pretending to laugh.

"Have you always been fond of skating ?" he asked, fixing his eye upon a distant tree, and trying to look unconscious.
"No--I only learned since I came here.