had gone pudding soft in the water and turned the color

"Ah," said Bernard, laughing, "that's an improvement!"

"So simple and so good!" Gordon exclaimed.

Bernard laid his hand on his companion's shoulder, shaking his head slowly.

"You must not think too much about that," he said.

"So simple--so good--so charming!" Gordon repeated.

"Ah, my dear Gordon!" Bernard murmured.

"So intelligent, so reasonable, so sensible."

"Have you discovered all that in two minutes' talk?"