He brushed that aside. "That was just taking advantage of an opportunity. I do that all the time."

"I didn't do it on purpose," Goneril replied. "How could I take advantage of something that was an accident?"

"Quickly," he replied. "Accidents tend to close up faster'n when you set things up yourself. And don't take it personal if someone turns you aside. It really doesn't matter. Like I said, most people aren't worth knowing anyway."

Goneril stared at him for a few moments. "Starling?" she said. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

He let out a sigh. "That happens a lot. Look, my point is that you have to go somewhere between . . . between putting yourself out to be liked, and not caring very much if someone doesn't."

"I can act like I don't care," Goneril replied. "But I'm still scared people won't."

"What are you scared of?" he asked.

"Not being liked?" Goneril replied. "Not being taken seriously? It's hard enough, being a girl. No one takes you seriously as it is. It's worse when you really try and people still do it."

"I suppose that would be a problem for you," he said. "Here it's mostly being too young to be taken seriously. But that's only when you're dealing with elders, not people our age."

Goneril smiled. "Well. I've got that, a little bit, too. But people who might look past my age don't look past my sex."