haven't."

"Luckily?"

"Yes. That would have committed me, don't you see. I've been tentatively
engaged more than a dozen times, but never quite up to the girl's
father. Now, I don't mind telling you that I've changed my mind about
Katherine. She's a jolly good sort, but she's not just _my_ sort. I
thought she was, but--well, you know how it is yourself. The heart's a
damned queer organ. Mine has gone back to Constance in the last two
days. You are her brother-in-law, and you're a good fellow, through and
through. I want your help. I've got money to burn, and the family's got
position in the States. I can take care of her as she should be taken
care of. No little old six-room flat for her. But, of course, you
understand, I can't quite carry the thing through with Katherine still
feeling herself attached, as it were. The thing to decide is this: how
best can I let Katherine down easily and take on Connie without putting
myself in a rather hazardous position? I'm a gentleman, you see, and I
can't do anything downright rotten. It wouldn't do. I'm sure, in her
heart, Connie cares for me. I could make her understand me better if I
had half the chance. But a fellow can't get near her nowadays. Don't you
think you are carrying the family link too far? Now, what I want to ask
of you, as a friend, is this: will you put in a good word for me every
chance you get? I'll square myself with Katherine all right. Of course,
you'll understand, I don't want to actually break with Katherine until
I'm reasonably sure of Constance. I'm a guest of the Rodney family, you
see. It would be downright indecent of me. No, sir! I'm not that sort. I
shouldn't think of ending it all with Katherine so long as we are both
guests of her father. I'd wait until the end of next week."