“For my sins, I am reading a philosophical novel. Our very story-tellers are getting serious and instructive; and as I read for amusement, I shall turn to Talmage’s sermons.”
“Where is Yanna?”
“Yanna left for Woodsome early this morning. She is at home by this time.”
“That is too bad! She promised to let me go to the train with her.”
“She expected you last night.”
“I could not possibly come. I was ever so sorry.”
“Why could you not come?”
“I was engaged—unexpectedly—and I was not feeling right. You know very well there are things that a man must attend to, whether he wants to do so or not.”
“Harry Filmer! You are a worse moral coward than the first of your kind. You cannot even say: ‘The woman beguiled me.’ Generally speaking, a man in a 179 mess can get out of it by throwing the blame on the woman with him.”
“Oh, if it comes to that, I hope I am not cad enough to put my sin on any woman. How much do you know, Miss Van Hoosen? Who has been telling tales?”