Barrons stubbornly.

"Because you like Maude Adams," said Skippy as a clincher.

By one bold stroke he had become a personage and what is more perceived
that he had become one. Different topics were served up for his
judgment. He pronounced flatly against colleges for women, woman
suffrage and bobbed hair, predicted the election of Mr. Bryan and the
probable division of the United States into four separate republics.
Even Snorky Green, who was floundering along on the subject of blazers
_vs._ sweaters, was impressed, and as for Miss Cantillon, she tried to
stir up a little commotion by introducing the subject of The Lady from
Narragansett who had removed freckles by watermelon rinds, but the
effect was tepid and she relapsed into a listener.

"Say, where did you get it?" said Snorky in a whisper as they passed out
to the veranda.

"Get what?"

"All this bright boy stuff! Why you're the little boy orator yourself."

"I'll tell you how it's done sometime," said Skippy magnificently.

"Do you like views?" said Vivi, coming to him as a moth to the brightest
flame.

"That depends," said Skippy, who being still in a mood of negation was
unwilling to concede anything.

Miss Vivi accepted this as acquiescence and, it being early moonlight
and dangerous underfoot, took his hand to lead him safely around the
flower beds. Skippy having just discovered the secret to success encased
himself in indifference and waited developments.

"Isn't it romantic! Don't you _love_ it?" she said, arrived at a little
summer house that jutted out over the darkling waters.

"It's rather nice," said Skippy, sternly repressing his emotional
tendencies.

Vivi now ostentatiously disengaged her hand.

"Please."

"Is it safe now?" said Skippy anxiously.

"How perfectly horrid of you," said the young lady in pretended
indignation. "You make fun of everything, even the most sacred things."

The relevancy of this was lost on Skippy who condescended to say,

"View isn't half bad if the moon weren't so dreadfully lopsided."

"Unsentimental wretch! I suppose you want to go back?" said Vivi
reproachfully.

"Are there mosquitoes?"

"Just for that I'll keep you here until you're eaten up," said Vivi,
plucking a spray of honeysuckle and inhaling it with a sigh. "Isn't it
wonderful, don't you adore honeysuckle in the moonlight?" she added,
transferring it to his inspection.

Skippy inhaled it loudly and announced that it was all right.