"Most men, no doubt," conceded the philosopher.
"Well, then, what ought she to do? It's not a real thing, you know, Mr. Jerningham. It's in—in a novel I was reading." She said this hastily, and blushed as she spoke.
"Dear me! And it's quite an interesting case! Yes, I see. The question is, Will she act most wisely in accepting the offer of the man who loves her exceedingly, but for whom she entertains only a moderate affection——"
"Yes. Just a liking. He's just a friend."
"Exactly. Or in marrying the other, whom she loves ex——"
"That's not it. How can she marry him? He hasn't—he hasn't asked her, you see."
"True. I forgot. Let us assume, though, for the moment, that he has asked her. She would then have to consider which marriage would probably be productive of the greater sum total of——"
"Oh, but you needn't consider that."
"But it seems the best logical order. We can afterward make allowance for the element of uncertainty caused by——"
"Oh, no! I don't want it like that. I know perfectly well which she'd do if he—the other man, you know—asked her."