"Hush, hush! For mercy's sake, be quiet! You should never say such things—never think them even. Walls have ears sometimes, and spoken words cannot be recalled. Never say that, even to me. At the same time, I do not see the obstacle."
"Florence! Well, I might expect it from you. You have married Sydney Vane's brother!"
She did not wince. She sat steadily regarding him over the tips of her rose-colored feather fan.
"And you," she said, "will marry Sydney Vane's daughter."
"God keep me from committing such a sin!"
"Hubert, this is mere sentimental folly," said his sister, with some earnestness.
"We have both made up our minds that the past is dead—why do you at every moment rake up its ashes?"
"It is in some ways unfortunate that Enid should have chosen to love you; but, as the matter stands, I cannot see that you have any other choice than to marry her."
"What on earth makes you say so?"
"I thought that you would go through a good deal of unpleasantness for the sake of saving her from trouble. You have said as much."