"But that is just what you must do."
"But then suppose I don't do it," said Miss Mellerby.
But Fred was determined to tell his secret. "The truth is that both my uncle and my aunt want me to fall in love with you."
"How very kind of them," said she with a little forced laugh.
"I don't for a moment think that, had I tried it on ever so, I could have succeeded. I am not at all the sort of man to be conceited in that way. Wishing to do the best they could for me, they picked you out. It isn't that I don't think as well of you as they do, but—"
"Really, Mr. Neville, this is the oddest conversation."
"Quite true. It is odd. But the fact is you are here, and there is nobody else I can talk to. And I want you to know the exact truth. I'm engaged to—somebody else."
"I ought to break my heart;—oughtn't I?"
"I don't in the least mind your laughing at me. I should have minded it very much if I had asked you to marry me, and you had refused me."
"You haven't given me the chance, you see."