She was partly startled, partly puzzled, by the strong emotions which she had unconsciously called into being.

"Oh dear me!" she said, "why can't you talk of something else?
Why can't we be friends?
Excuse me for mentioning it," she went on, looking up at him with a saucy smile, "you are old enough to be my father." Moody's head sank on his breast.

"I own it," he answered humbly.

"But there is something to be said for me.

Men as old as I am have made good husbands before now.