'What I mean is, without any beating about the bush,--have you
been making love to her?'

'Who is to say what making love consists, Mr Wharton?'

'D it, sir, a gentleman knows. A gentleman knows whether he
has been playing on a girl's feelings, and a gentleman, when he
is asked as I have asked you, will at any rate tell the truth. I
don't want any definitions. Have you been making love to her?'

'I think, Mr Wharton, that I have behaved like a gentleman; and
that you will acknowledge at least so much when you come to know
exactly what I have done and what I have not done. I have
endeavoured to commend myself to your daughter, but I have never
spoken a word of love to her.'

'Does Everett know of all this?'

'Yes.'

'And has he encouraged it?'

'He knows of it because he is my intimate friend. Whoever the
lady might have been, I should have told him. He is attached to
me, and would not I think, on his own account, object to call me
his brother. I spoke to him yesterday on the matter very
plainly, and he told me that I ought certainly to see you first.
I quite agreed with him, and therefore I am here. There has
certainly been nothing in his conduct to make you angry, and I do
not think that there has been anything in mine.'