He exhibited symptoms of nervous sensibility for the first time in his life--he started when Arnold spoke to him.
"What's the matter, Geoffrey ?" "A letter to answer.

And I don't know how." "From Miss Silvester ?" asked Arnold, dropping his voice so as to prevent the ladies at the other end of the room from hearing him.
"No," answered Geoffrey, in a lower voice still.
"Have you heard what Blanche has been saying to me about Miss Silvester ?" "Some of it." "Did you hear Blanche say that she meant to send me to Craig Fernie to-morrow, if she failed to get news from Miss Silvester to-day ?" "No." "Then you know it now.

That is what Blanche has just said to me." "Well ?" "Well--there's a limit to what a man can expect even from his best friend.

I hope you won't ask me to be Blanche's messenger to-morrow.

I can't, and won't, go back to the inn as things are now." "You have had enough of it--eh ?" "I have had enough of distressing Miss Silvester, and more than enough of deceiving Blanche." "What do you mean by 'distressing Miss Silvester ?'" "She doesn't take the same easy view that you and I do, Geoffrey, of my passing her off on the people of the inn as my wife." Geoffrey absently took up a paper-knife.