"The right of being engaged to marry her." Crayford's steady eyes were still on the watch, and Wardour felt them on him.

A little more and Crayford might openly interfere.

Even Wardour recognized for once the necessity of controlling his temper, cost him what it might.

He made his apologies, with overstrained politeness, to Frank.
"Impossible to dispute such a right as yours," he said.

"Perhaps you will excuse me when you know that I am one of Miss Burnham's old friends.