"If she had declared her passion shouldn't I rather compromise her-- ?" "By letting me know ?" Mr.Longdon reflected.

"I'm sure I can't say--it's a sort of thing for which I haven't a measure or a precedent.

In my time women didn't declare their passion.

I'm thinking of what the meaning is of Mrs.Brookenham's wanting you--as I've heard it called--herself." Vanderbank, still with his smile, smoked a minute.

"That's what you've heard it called ?" "Yes, but you must excuse me from telling you by whom." He was amused at his friend's discretion.