"You are now; I can see that.... How soon will you be sorry?"
"I have not considered you as a novelty."
"But I am; I'm a mechanical toy. My paint soon comes off, cousin."
"You're my own kin. There's no novelty, as you call it, in kinship, nothing evanescent."
She said: "Do you really and deliberately desire to stand by that extremely tenuous and attenuated tie? An attitude of that sort entails duties. You may have much to overlook in us--even much to forgive. Are you aware of your responsibilities?"
"I assumed them when I asked to be admitted to your partnership."
"What exactly do you mean by that answer?"
"I don't know, myself, Japonette," he said laughingly; "I've tried to analyze it, too. The instinct of relationship may have counted."
"I hope so. God knows, and men are selfish.... And _that_ counted, too."
"I don't believe there is very much in you."
"That is where your heart is still a child's heart, Japonette."
"Oh, I'm no altruist, but there's selfishness _and_ selfishness.... What were we talking about? Oh! why you desired to join----"
"Oh, yes; well, then, you say it was because of me. Why?"
"I told you I didn't know exactly why; but the root of it all was you.... And when you told me about some people who had come here--that fellow who spoke about a housekeeper----"
"I believe--but you _can't_ be as nice as that! You simply can't!"
"Oh, I'm not nice," he protested, reddening; but she interrupted:
"You _are_! I certainly believe you thought that Silvie and I required somebody masculine in our vicinity--to throw the housekeeping man downstairs, for example. Did you?"
"Do you know," she said seriously, "you're a perfect dear in one way, and I don't know what you are in others. _Now_ be flattered, for _that_ makes you interesting. And you know it's all up with a woman who finds a man interesting."
She was laughing at him now, and he scarcely knew how to take what she said except to take it with a grin.
"You're a terrible torment, Diana," he said. "My value in my own estimation, since I've known you, has fluctuated between a dollar and a half and thirty cents."
"You _said_ you had two dollars! I believe you're one of these wealthy men who are always singing poor!"
"How many other kinds of things do you think I am?" he asked resignedly.