Have they got engaged ?" "They have not," said Callaghan.
"Then I suppose there must have been what you call impropriety of conduct.

If so--" "There has not," said Callaghan.
"That's just as well; for if there had been, I should have had to ask you to wait before giving me details until the Major had gone a good bit of the way home.

He's an unmarried man, and I don't think it would be good for him to--" "There was no impropriety of conduct that I seen," said Callaghan.
"Well, it can't be helped.

I should have been glad, of course, to hear that Simpkins had been pushing his way on a bit, holding her hand or something of that kind.

I suppose, now, if anything of the sort occurred you'd be sure to have seen it." "Don't I tell you there wasn't," said Callaghan; "nor there couldn't have been, for Simpkins wasn't near the place since the afternoon you was in it yourself." "What! Do you mean to say-- ?" "He was in it the once," said Callaghan, "not long after you leaving, and barring that she gave him a cup of tea there was nothing passed between them, and I wouldn't say he was there half an hour." "Do you hear that, Major?
That silly ass Simpkins has actually flung away a priceless opportunity.