"I think you are—"
"Stop, stop. Do not say it."
"Well I won't;—not now. But there has been no tomfoolery."
"May I ask a question, Lord Silverbridge? You will not be angry? I would not have you angry with me."
"I will not be angry," he said.
"Are you not engaged to marry Lady Mabel Grex?"
"No."
"Then I beg your pardon. I was told that you were engaged to her. And I thought your choice was so fortunate, so happy! I have seen no girl here that I admire half so much. She almost comes up to my idea of what a young woman should be."
"Almost!"
"Now I am sure that if not engaged to her you must be in love with her, or my praise would have sufficed."