His brother at present was full of his promise, full of his love, full of his honour.

Nor would Jack have absolutely counselled him to break his word to the young lady.

But he thought it probable that in the event of delay poor Miss O'Hara might go to the wall;--and he also thought that for the general interests of the Scroope family it would be better that she should do so.
"And what are you going to do yourself ?" asked Fred.
"In respect of what ?" "In respect of Miss Mellerby ?" "In respect of Miss Mellerby I am not going to do anything," said Jack as he walked away.
In all that the younger brother said to the elder as to poor Kate O'Hara he was no doubt wise and prudent; but in what he said about himself he did not tell the truth.

But then the question asked was one which a man is hardly bound to answer, even to a brother.

Jack Neville was much less likely to talk about his love affairs than Fred, but not on that account less likely to think about them.