I hope, on the contrary, that I may congratulate you." And he stood up with a look which, coupled with his words, made it my turn to stare.
"Indeed you may not," said I.
"Aren't you engaged to her ?" he asked.
"Good God, no!" I cried.

"What made you think so ?" "Everything!" exclaimed Bob, after a moment's pause of obvious bewilderment.

"I--you see--I had a note from Mrs.Lascelles herself!" "Yes ?" said I, carefully careless, but I wanted more than ever to know that missive's gist.
"Only a few lines," Bob went on, ruefully; "they are the first thing I heard or saw when I got down, and they almost made me wish I'd come down with a run! Well, it's no use talking about it, I only thought you'd know.

It was the usual smack in the eye, I suppose, only nicely put and all that.

She didn't tell me where she was going, or why; she told me I had better ask you." "But you wouldn't condescend." Bob gave a rather friendly little laugh.
"I said I'd see you damned!" he admitted.