I am informed that you are engaged to my friend Cedric Templeton." It was evident that she was prepared for this--the bolt out of the blue had not startled her.

She stood still and looked at him with an air of proud displeasure.
"May I ask the name of your informant, Mr.Herrick ?" she asked coldly; but he saw that she knew.
"Why should I not have heard it from Cedric himself--we are close friends ?" but he watched her narrowly as he said this.
"Because he would be the last person to tell you." Then she checked herself, as she saw the snare he had laid for her.

"What if I am engaged to him ?" as though determined to brave it out; "it can surely be no business of yours, Mr.Herrick." There was rising temper in Leah's voice.
"You must forgive me if I say that I differ from you there--my friend's interests are my own.

Miss Jacobi, how can you reconcile it to your conscience to injure that poor boy's prospects by entering into a clandestine engagement with him ?" He could see her eyes flash with anger, but she made no reply.
"You know his position.

He is utterly dependent on his sisters--his father left him nothing; he has no profession; he has not even finished his university training; he is far too young to think of marrying." She opened her lips to speak, and then closed them resolutely again.
"Pardon me if I am obliged to speak plainly, but I have no option.