Barker was silent.
The Doctor was puzzled.

He thought it would be very rude of him to refuse Mr.Barker's offer.

On the other hand, in spite of his protestations of devotion to the sex, he knew that the exalted opinion he held of woman in general had gained upon him of late years, since he had associated less with them.

It was with him a beautiful theory, the outcome of a knightly nature thrown back on itself, but as yet not fixed or clearly defined by any intimate knowledge of woman's character, still less by any profound personal experience of love.

Courtesy was uppermost as he answered.
"Really," he said at last, "if you are very desirous of presenting me to your friends, of course I--" "Oh, only if it is agreeable to you, of course.