"
"At Christmas! Heavens alive! You speak as if it were to-morrow."
"Oh, but time goes very quickly, you know."
Dan shook his head impatiently. "I dare say it does with you," he returned,
irritably, "but it wouldn't if you were as much in love as I am."
"Why, you ought to be used to it by now," urged Betty, mercilessly. "You
were in love last year, I remember."
"Betty, don't punish me for what I couldn't help. You know I love you."
"Oh, no," said Betty, nervously plucking rose leaves. "You have been too
often in love before, my good Dan."
"But I was never in love with you before," retorted Dan, decisively.
She shook her head, smiling. "And you are not in love with me now," she
replied, gravely. "You have found out that my hair is pretty, or that I can
mix a pudding; but I do not often let down my hair, and I seldom cook, so
you'll get over it, my friend, never fear."
He flushed angrily. "And if I do not get over it?" he demanded.
"If you do not get over it?" repeated Betty, trembling. She turned away
from him, strewing a handful of rose leaves upon the grass. "Then I shall
think that you value neither my hair nor my housekeeping," she added,
lightly.
"If I swear that I love you, will you believe me, Betty?"
"Don't tempt my faith, Dan, it's too small."
"Whether you believe it or not, I do love you," he went on. "I may have
been a fool now and then before I found it out, but you don't think that
was falling in love, do you? I confess that I liked a pair of fine eyes or
rosy cheeks, but I could laugh about it even while I thought it was love I
felt.
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