Eventually he went off, still bubbling with enthusiasm. When his motorbike was out of earshot I went to look for Smithy. He must have taken off smartly at the high port as soon as he saw Elmer but I ran him down in the end.

Those data are debatable: no one has been able to replicate them.

He told me Rosie rides horses at her uncle’s ranch, so I said “Cool!,” which was lame. When he asked me if I ride, I said “Oh sure!” which is what Ms. Nelson might call a hyperbole, or exaggeration, since the only time I ever did was when I was about four, at the pony ring at the Sonoma County Fair. Remember that? I was almost too scared to do it but you told me it would be OK, and then afterward I’m sure I went around pretending I was suddenly this great cowkid.

Hold the phone! We've had this problem before, with the other machine.