By-and-by he looked up, and meeting Errington's anxious gaze, he broke into a short laugh.
"Don't mind me, my lad!" he said sturdily.

"'Tis a blow, you see! I had not thought so far as this.

I'll tell you the plain truth, and you must forgive me for wronging you.

I know what young blood is, all the world over.

A fair face fires it--and impulse makes it gallop beyond control.
'Twas so with me when I was your age,--though no woman, I hope, was ever the worse for my harmless lovemaking.