"Oh, nonsense; when I am your husband you will be just as infatuated about me as she is."
"Do you know, Philip, you are as vain as a girl."
"Well, yes; I suppose I am vain; but so would any man be who was as successful with the fair sex as I am," he said, drawing himself up to his full height of five feet nine, a look of pleasure in his large bright eyes.
"I can assure you, Philip, I felt anything but vain at the Pavilion, or coming out of church, with the spiteful eyes of that tall, common-looking, over-dressed Mrs. Snob full upon me, as social astronomer; she took in the situation at once."
"A fig for what such like see or think; I thought you were above valuing the opinion of our wealthy plebeians."
"But we were so conspicuously placed; I shrink from giving such women food for gossip."
"Hang them all; our east-ender, Mrs. Snob, Ragsel, and the whole tribe, or anyone that bothers you, Elaine."
"But, Philip, do be rational; release me from my oath; give me my freedom; we will never be happy married, or with our engagement still on; for she will grow bolder, and more persistent with each advance; do, for pity's sake, free me."
"No, no; you ask too much," he said, angrily, thinking of these comfortable quarters of which he should be master, and of the woman beside him also.
"But see how you left me for her last night; you must be fond of her."