Needless to say, I was most disagreeably impressed by Walter Hornby's conduct, and not a little disposed to blame my fair companion for giving an ear to his secret disparagement of his cousin; but I was obviously not in a position to pronounce, offhand, upon the merits of the case.
"The position appears to be this," I said, after a pause, "either Reuben has spoken most unworthily and untruthfully of you, or Walter has lied deliberately about him." "Yes," she agreed, "that is the position; but which of the two alternatives appears to you the more probable ?" "That is very difficult to say," I answered.

"There is a certain kind of cad who is much given to boastful rhodomontade concerning his conquests.
We all know him and can generally spot him at first sight, but I must say that Reuben Hornby did not strike me as that kind of man at all.
Then it is clear that the proper course for Walter to have adopted, if he had really heard such rumours, was to have had the matter out with Reuben, instead of coming secretly to you with whispered reports.

That is my feeling, Miss Gibson, but, of course, I may be quite wrong.

I gather that our two young friends are not inseparable companions ?" "Oh, they are very good friends, but you see, their interests and views of life are quite different.

Reuben, although an excellent worker in business hours, is a student, or perhaps rather what one would call a scholar, whereas Walter is more a practical man of affairs--decidedly long-headed and shrewd.