"Who has thrashed him?"
"I don't want to tell the story against him, but they say he has been cut about in a terrible manner."
"Why should anybody beat him? Did he do anything?"
"There was a young lady in the question, Marie."
"A young lady! What young lady? I don't believe it. But it's nothing to me. I don't care about anything, Lord Nidderdale;—not a bit. I suppose you've made up all that out of your own head."
"Indeed, no. I believe he was beaten, and I believe it was about a young woman. But it signifies nothing to me, and I don't suppose it signifies much to you. Don't you think we might fix a day, Marie?"
"I don't care the least," said Marie. "The longer it's put off the better I shall like it;—that's all."
"Because I'm so detestable?"
"No,—you ain't detestable. I think you are a very good fellow; only you don't care for me. But it is detestable not being able to do what one wants. It's detestable having to quarrel with everybody and never to be good friends with anybody. And it's horribly detestable having nothing on earth to give one any interest."
"You couldn't take any interest in me?"