There had been a suddenness in his mode of addressing her which had, so to say, almost taken away her breath; and then to be told by a man of his love before his sister was in itself, to her, a matter so surprising, that none of those words came at her command which will come, as though by instinct, to young ladies on such occasions.
"You have known it always," said he, as though he were angry with her.
"Lord Chiltern," she replied, "you must excuse me if I say that you are, at the least, very abrupt.

I did not think when I was going back so joyfully to our childish days that you would turn the tables on me in this way." "He has said nothing that ought to make you angry," said Lady Laura.
"Only because he has driven me to say that which will make me appear to be uncivil to himself.

Lord Chiltern, I do not love you with that love of which you are speaking now.

As an old friend I have always regarded you, and I hope that I may always do so." Then she got up and left the room.
"Why were you so sudden with her,--so abrupt,--so loud ?" said his sister, coming up to him and taking him by the arm almost in anger.
"It would make no difference," said he.

"She does not care for me." "It makes all the difference in the world," said Lady Laura.