"The deuce you do!" he said, laughing. "It's early in life to have come to that conclusion, Mr. Chiddingfold."
"Yes, yes, Jeremy, quite so; but——" Grantley began.
"It's an invention of priests," Jeremy insisted heatedly.
Courtland, scarred with fifteen years' experience of the institution thus roundly attacked, was immensely diverted, though his own feelings gave a rather bitter twist to his mirth. Grantley argued, or rather pleaded, with a deceptive gravity:
"But if you fall in love with a girl?"
"Heaven forbid!"
"Well, but the world must be peopled, Jeremy."
"Marriage isn't necessary to that, is it?"
"Oho!" whistled Courtland.
"We may concede the point—in theory," said Grantley; "in practice it's more difficult."