“Roger,” said Mildred, “I’ve much to say to you, and it is of great importance that you should listen calmly and sensibly.”

“All right,” he answered laughingly.  “You will find me as quiet and impressible as the oysters over which we’ll have our talk, but only on this condition.  You shall not fatigue yourself by a word here in the street.”  Nevertheless she felt the phlegmatic creature’s arm trembling under her hand.  After a moment he went on, in the same light way, “I want you to understand I am not going to be a friend in name merely; I intend to assert my rights, and you had better learn from the start that I am the most tremendously obstinate fellow in the city.”

“But you must listen to reason.”

“Certainly; so must you.”

“To begin with,” she resumed, “I’ve had my supper, and so don’t need any more.”

“I haven’t had mine, and am ravenous.  The idea of talking reason to a hungry man!  I know of a nice quiet restaurant which, at this hour, we’ll have almost to ourselves.  You surely won’t be so unsocial as to let me eat alone.”

“Well, if I yield in trifles you must yield in matters that are vital.  Why did you not get your supper before?”

“Too busy; and then, to be honest, I knew I’d enjoy it a hundredfold more with you.  I’m a social animal.”

Mildred sighed, for this good-comradeship was making her duty very hard.

They soon reached the place in question, and Roger ordered enough for four.

“You don’t realize what you are doing in any respect,” said Mildred in smiling reproof.

“Wait half an hour before you settle that question,” he replied with a confident nod.  “I’ll soon prove to you what an unsentimental being I am.”

“Oh,” thought Mildred, “how can I give up his friendship when he acts in this way?  And yet I must.  He must be shown just how he is wronging himself.”  When the waiter had departed she looked straight into his eyes with one of her steadfast glances, and said earnestly, “Roger, I appreciate your generous kindness far more than any words can tell you, but the time has come for me to act resolutely and finally.  Sad experience has taught me more within a year than most women learn in a lifetime.  Mrs. Wheaton, who often works for your aunt, has told us of the sacrifice you have made in our behalf, and we cannot permit it.  If not in years, I’m much older than you in other respects, and you don’t realize—­”

Roger interrupted her by leaning back in his chair and breaking out into an irrepressible laugh.  “So you are going to interfere in behalf of the small boy’s interests?  My venerable friend, permit me to remind you that I am six feet high in my stockings, and have lately reached the mature age of twenty-one.”

“Roger,” replied Mildred, with a pained look on her face, “I’m in earnest, and I’ve lain awake nearly all of two nights thinking about it.”

“Millie, your oysters are getting cold.  You don’t know anything about boys, much less about men.  Don’t you know I’ll be much more amiable after supper?  It’s the nature of the male animal, and what’s the use of going against nature?”