It had come about so strangely, and yet so easily, in the midst of their first greeting.
"Yes," admitted Maurice, "that was it." "And what answer did you give ?" asked Jocelyn.
"Oh, I told him to go and hang himself--or words to that effect," was the reply, delivered with a deprecating laugh.
"Was that your final answer ?" pursued Jocelyn, inexorable.

Her persistence surprised Jack.

Perhaps it surprised herself.
"Yes, I think so." "Are you sure ?" "Well, he cut up rough and threatened to make things disagreeable; so I think I said that it was no good his asking me to do anything in the matter, as I didn't know your feelings." "Well, you can tell him," cried Jocelyn hotly, "that never, under any circumstances whatever, would I dream even of the possibility of marrying him." And the two men were alone.
Maurice Gordon gazed blankly at the closed door.
"How was I to know she'd take it like that ?" he asked helplessly.
And for once the polished gentleman of the world forgot himself--carried away by a sudden unreasoning anger which surprised him almost as much as it did Maurice Gordon.
"Why, you damned fool," said Jack, "any idiot would have known that she would take it like that.

How could she do otherwise?
You, her brother, ought to know that to a girl like Miss Gordon the idea of marrying such a low brute as Durnovo could only be repugnant.

Durnovo--why, he is not good enough to sweep the floor that she has stood upon! He's not fit to speak to her; and you go on letting him come to the house, sickening her with his beastly attentions! You're not capable of looking after a lady! I would have kicked Durnovo through that very window myself, only"-- he paused, recalling himself with a little laugh--"only it was not my business." Maurice Gordon sat down forlornly.