seems to me very unnecessary. I cannot imagine myself kissing mamma, even if—even if—" I hesitated.

"Even if what?" he asked, unpardonably interested.

"Never mind," sharply. "I was going to reveal family matters to a stranger. You are a stranger, you know. I was going to say—don't think me awful—that I cannot imagine myself kissing mamma even if she did not powder."

He looked rather shocked at my frankness, and I respected him for it. He did not smile, and I went back to my theme. "I could not be demonstrative," I declared. "It seems to me so dreadfully coarse. I flatter myself that I am extremely matter-of-fact."

"I thought so," he said, "and so did—" He stopped in some slight confusion, and reddened in that most provoking manner that people have.

"So did who?" I asked.

"I was merely going to say—"

"Mr. Ravener," I said deliberately. "I want to know who else thought as you did about me."