I think I'll wait a little bit, though." "See what ?" she said.
"Why, that--that--" "Well ?" "Hang it! why is it always so abominably absurd?
Why, that I love the ground you tread on, Claudia?
Is this wretched thing to keep us apart!" "Mr.Lane, you're magnificent; but isn't there a trifling assumption in your last remark ?" "How ?" "Well, you seemed--perhaps you didn't mean it--to imply that only that 'wretched thing' kept _us_ apart.

That's rather taking me for granted, isn't it ?" "Ah! you know I didn't mean it.

But if things were different, could you--" "A conditional proposal is a new fashion.

Is that one of Sir Roderick's ideas ?" Eugene was at last angry.

He was silent for a moment.