I wish you the same." "Come over here and curl up on the hearth and drop your head back on my knees, and tell me what is the trouble--you sulky boy!" He did not appear to hear her.
"Please?
--" with a slight rising inflection.
"What is the use of pretending ?" he said, shortly.
"Pretending!" she repeated, mimicking him delightedly.

Then with a clear, frank laugh: "Oh, you great, big infant! The idea of _you_ being the famous painter Louis Neville! I wish there was a nursery here.

I'd place you in it and let you pout!" "That's more pretence," he said, "and you know it." "What silly things you do say, Louis! As though people could find life endurable if they did not pretend.

Of course I'm pretending.

And if a girl pretends hard enough it sometimes comes true." "What comes true ?" "Ah!--you ask me too much....