"I'm sure of that, dear, and therefore I like you to know it. Of course such a thing was quite out of the question. The poor fellow has no means at all,—literally none. And then, independently of that—"
"I don't think I should ever bring myself to think of that as the first thing," said Florence.
"No, nor would I. If I really were attached to a man, I think I would tell him so, and agree to wait, either with hope or without it."
"Just so, Fanny."
"But there was nothing of that kind; and, indeed, he's the sort of man that no girl would think of being in love with,—isn't he? You see he will hardly take the trouble to dress himself decently."
"I have only seen him at a wedding, you know."
"And for him he was quite bright. But you will see plenty of him if you will go to the schools with me. And indeed he comes here a great deal, quite as much as he did before that happened. He is so good, Florence!"
"Poor man!"
"I can't in the least make out from his manner whether he has given up thinking about it. I suppose he has. Indeed, of course he has, because he must know that it would be of no sort of use. But he is one of those men of whom you can never say whether they are happy or not; and you never can be quite sure what may be in his mind."
"He is not bound to the place at all,—not like your father?"