"They--Austin and--and everybody have been putting you up to this until I'm tired of it.

Do they think I'm a baby?
Do they suppose I don't know enough to take care of myself?
Are they trying to make me ridiculous?
I tell you they'd better let me alone.

My friends are my friends, and I won't listen to any criticism of them, and that settles it." "Gerald--" "Oh, I know perfectly well that you dislike Neergard.

I don't, and that's the difference." "I'm not speaking of Mr.Neergard, Gerald; I'm only trying to tell you what this man Ruthven really is doing--" "What do I care what he is doing!" cried Gerald angrily.

"And, anyway, it isn't likely I'd come to you to find out anything about Mrs.
Ruthven's second husband!" Selwyn rose, very white and still.