Arthur shook his head, and Dale poked the little bit of fire in an impatient way.
"How damned crooked things go!" he said.
Arthur rose and said in a decided tone:
"Well, I'm out of it. She saved your life, and she's in love with you. It seems to me your duty's pretty plain. You must drop your other fancy."
"My other fancy?" exclaimed Dale in horror. Lived there a man who could call his love for Janet a "fancy"?
"You'd break her heart," said Arthur, who thought of no one but his lady-love in his unselfish devotion.
It crossed Dale's mind to say that the situation seemed to involve the breaking of one heart at least, if Arthur were right; but he thought he had no right to speak of Janet's feelings, well as he knew them. He threw the poker down with a clang.
"Take care—you'll disturb her."
This annoyed Dale.