Ayre accepted her proposal without demur, asked and obtained leave for a cigarette, and sat for a few moments in apparent ease and vacancy of mind.

He was thinking how to begin.
"Ought one ever to do evil that good may come ?" he did begin, a long way off.
"Dear me, Sir Roderick, what a curious question! I suppose not." "I'm sorry; because I did evil last night, and I want to confess." "I really don't want to hear," said Kate, in some alarm.

There's no telling what men will say when they become confidential, and Kate's propriety was a tender plant.
"It concerns you." "Me?
Nonsense! How can it ?" "In order to serve a friend, I did a--well--a doubtful thing." Kate was puzzled.
"You are in a curious mood, Sir Roderick.

Do you often ask moral counsel ?" "I am not going to ask it.

I am, with your kind permission, going to offer it." "You are going to offer me moral counsel ?" "I thought of taking that liberty.