"You never take anything seriously," his companion went on.
Bernard tried to answer as seriously as possible.
"Your dilemma seems to me of all dilemmas the strangest." "That may be; but different people take things differently.

Don't you see," Gordon went on with a sudden outbreak of passion--"don't you see that I am horribly divided in mind?
I care immensely for Angela Vivian--and yet--and yet--I am afraid of her." "Afraid of her ?" "I am afraid she 's cleverer than I--that she would be a difficult wife; that she might do strange things." "What sort of things ?" "Well, that she might flirt, for instance." "That 's not a thing for a man to fear." "Not when he supposes his wife to be fond of him--no.

But I don't suppose that--I have given that up.

If I should induce Angela Vivian to accept me she would do it on grounds purely reasonable.

She would think it best, simply.