"When did it happen ?" "What time did she come into your office the other day ?" "It must have been after eleven." "Then it happened about eleven-fifteen." Pembroke's eyes were dancing.
"Do you--er--think there are any others ?" "Thousands," said I, "only--" I turned the end of my cigar around to see if the light had proved effective.
"Only what ?" "Only she won't have them." "Then there is really a chance ?" "When a woman is not married there is always a chance," said I, wisely.
"But let me tell you, cousin mine, she has a very high ideal.

The man who wins her must be little less than a demigod and a little more than a man.

Indeed, her ideal is so high that I did not reach it by a good foot." Pembroke looked surprised.

"She--ah--rejected--" "I did not say that I had proposed to her," said I.
"If you haven't, why haven't you ?" "It is strange." As his face assumed an anxious tinge, I laughed.

"My dear relative, go ahead and win her, if you can; you have my best wishes.