Perhaps his confidences were in bad taste! With a new sense of his inexperience he turned sadly away.

Van Loo took that opportunity to approach Stacy.
"What's all this I hear of Barker being engaged to Miss Carter ?" he said, with a faintly superior smile.

"Is it really true ?" "Yes.

Why shouldn't it be ?" returned Stacy bluntly.
Van Loo was instantly deprecating and smiling.

"Why not, of course?
But isn't it sudden ?" "They have known each other ever since he's been on Heavy Tree Hill," responded Stacy.
"Ah, yes! True," said Van Loo.