It's a whim of his that we should keep ourselves entirely to ourselves.

At least, some people would call it a whim, for my own part I have reason to believe that he has solid grounds for all that he does--though perhaps in this matter he may be a little too exacting." "You must surely find it very lonely," said I."Couldn't you manage to slip down at times and have a smoke with me?
That house over yonder is Branksome." "Indeed, you are very kind," he answered, with sparkling eyes.

"I should dearly like to run over now and again.

With the exception of Israel Stakes, our old coachman and gardener, I have not a soul that I can speak to." "And your sister--she must feel it even more," said I, thinking in my heart that my new acquaintance made rather too much of his own troubles and too little of those of his companion.
"Yes; poor Gabriel feels it, no doubt," he answered carelessly, "but it's a more unnatural thing for a young man of my age to be cooped up in this way than for a woman.

Look at me, now.