"But I mean rather to state it as a fact that it is not my intention to propose to her."
"Then we had better not speak of her."
"Listen to me a moment. In order that I may not do so, it will be better for me—better for us all, that I should leave the house."
"Do you mean to say—?"
"Yes, I do mean to say! I mean to say all that your mind is now suggesting to you. I quite understand your feelings when you declare that a man does not like to talk of his own sister, and therefore we will talk of your sister no more. Old fellow, don't look at me as though you meant to drop me."
Augustus came back to the bedside, and again seating himself, put his hand almost caressingly over his friend's shoulder. "I did not think of this," he said.
"No; one never does think of it," Graham replied.
"And she?"
"She knows no more of it than that bed-post," said Graham. "The injury, such as there is, is all on one side. But I'll tell you who suspects it."
"Baker?"