He looked diffident, and amiable, and independent, and he, too, was evidently English.
"Are you good at argument ?" said Shelton, at a loss for a remark.
The youth smiled, blushed, and, putting back his hair, replied: "Yes--no--I don't know; I think my brain does n't work fast enough for argument.

You know how many motions of the brain-cells go to each remark.

It 's awfully interesting"; and, bending from the waist in a mathematical position, he extended the palm of one hand, and started to explain.
Shelton stared at the youth's hand, at his frowns and the taps he gave his forehead while he found the expression of his meaning; he was intensely interested.

The youth broke off, looked at his watch, and, blushing brightly, said: "I 'm afraid I have to go; I have to be at the 'Den' before eleven." "I must be off, too," said Shelton.

Making their adieux together, they sought their hats and coats..