Now, Stephen, pull your chair round, and tell me what you have been doing all this time.

Have you kept up your Greek ?' 'No.' 'How's that ?' 'I haven't enough spare time.' 'That's nonsense.' 'Well, I have done a great many things, if not that.

And I have done one extraordinary thing.' Knight turned full upon Stephen.

'Ah-ha! Now, then, let me look into your face, put two and two together, and make a shrewd guess.' Stephen changed to a redder colour.
'Why, Smith,' said Knight, after holding him rigidly by the shoulders, and keenly scrutinising his countenance for a minute in silence, 'you have fallen in love.' 'Well--the fact is----' 'Now, out with it.' But seeing that Stephen looked rather distressed, he changed to a kindly tone.

'Now Smith, my lad, you know me well enough by this time, or you ought to; and you know very well that if you choose to give me a detailed account of the phenomenon within you, I shall listen; if you don't, I am the last man in the world to care to hear it.' 'I'll tell this much: I HAVE fallen in love, and I want to be MARRIED.' Knight looked ominous as this passed Stephen's lips.
'Don't judge me before you have heard more,' cried Stephen anxiously, seeing the change in his friend's countenance.
'I don't judge.