He waited with the most impenetrable gravity for her reply.
"I think you can hardly expect me to answer that question," she said "Why not ?" "Our acquaintance has been a very short one, Mr.Hardyman.And, if _you_ are so good as to forget the difference between us, I think _I_ ought to remember it." "What difference ?" "The difference in rank." Hardyman suddenly stood still, and emphasized his next words by digging his stick into the grass.
"If anything I have said has vexed you," he began, "tell me so plainly, Miss Isabel, and I'll ask your pardon.

But don't throw my rank in my face.

I cut adrift from all that nonsense when I took this farm and got my living out of the horses.

What has a man's rank to do with a man's feelings ?" he went on, with another emphatic dig of his stick.

"I am quite serious in asking if you like me--for this good reason, that I like you.