Now, what is the why of that ?" "There is a difference," said Anne meditatively.

"I think it's because Ruby is really so CONSCIOUS of boys.

She plays at love and love-making.
Besides, you feel, when she is boasting of her beaux that she is doing it to rub it well into you that you haven't half so many.

Now, when Phil talks of her beaux it sounds as if she was just speaking of chums.

She really looks upon boys as good comrades, and she is pleased when she has dozens of them tagging round, simply because she likes to be popular and to be thought popular.