However, Boots's reply could be only the negative answer that any decent man must give.
Sitting there in the carpetless room piled high with dusty, linen-shrouded furniture, he looked around, an involuntary smile twitching his mouth.

Somehow he had not felt so light-hearted for a long, long while--and whether it came from his comrade's sermon, or his own unexpected acknowledgment of its truth, or whether it was pure amusement at Boots in the role of householder and taxpayer, he could not decide.

But he was curiously happy of a sudden; and he smiled broadly upon Mr.Lansing: "What about _your_ marrying," he said--"after all this talk about mine! What about it, Boots?
Is this new house the first modest step toward the matrimony you laud so loudly ?" "Sure," said that gentleman airily; "that's what I'm here for." "Really ?" "Well, of course, idiot.

I've always been in love." "You mean you actually have somebody in view-- ?" "No, son.

I've always been in love with--love.