"Do you think you--er--_really_ understand very much about women?"
"No--I don't. How can I? I don't know any," he replied bluntly, and
the answer was so surprisingly, illogically different from what I
expected, that involuntarily I laughed, and went on laughing while he
stammered and tried to explain.
"Of course I have my opinion--every fellow has. One has eyes. One
can't go through life without _seeing_. But, personally, it's quite
true. I _don't_ know any. Never have done!"
"Your mother?"
"You would think so, but we are too much alike--tongue-tied--can't say
what we feel. She is more at home with my sister, who chatters from
morning till night, and has no reticences, no susceptibilities. We care
for each other; to a point we are good friends, but beyond that--
strangers."