"Go on, old fellow."
"Or perhaps Major Tifto has made important revelations."
"D–––– Major Tifto."
"With all my heart," said Tregear.
"Sit down here," said Silverbridge. "As it happened, at the moment when you came up I was thinking of you."
"That was kind."
"And I was determined to go to you. All this about my sister must be given up."
"Must be given up?"
"It can never lead to any good. I mean that there never can be a marriage." Then he paused, but Tregear was determined to hear him out. "It is making my father so miserable that you would pity him if you could see him."
"I dare say I should. When I see people unhappy I always pity them. What I would ask you to think of is this. If I were to commission you to tell your sister that everything between us should be given up, would not she be so unhappy that you would have to pity her?"