But I had not; there was Suddy Gray--a nice boy, perfectly qualified; and there were alternates more worldly, perhaps.

But I did not think of you; and that is what now amazes and humiliates me; because it was the obvious that I overlooked--the most perfectly natural--" "Nina! you are madder than a March heiress!" "Air your theories, Phil, then come back to realities.

The conditions remain; Eileen is certainly a little in love with you; and a little with her means something.

And you, evidently, have never harboured any serious intentions toward the child; I can see that, because you are the most transparent man I ever knew.

Now, the question is, what is to be done ?" "Done?
Good heavens! Nothing, of course! There's nothing to do anything about! Nina, you are the most credulous little matchmaker that ever--" "Oh, Phil, _must_ I listen to all those fulminations before you come down to the plain fact?
And it's plain to me as the nose on your countenance; and I don't know what to do about it! I certainly was a perfect fool to confide in you, for you are exhibiting the coolness and sagacity of a stampeded chicken." He laughed in spite of himself; then, realising a little what her confidence had meant, he turned a richer red and slowly lifted his fingers to his moustache, while his perplexed gray eyes began to narrow as though sun-dazzled.
"I am, of course, obliged to believe that you are mistaken," he said; "a man cannot choose but believe in that manner.