“Have you any sisters, Mr. Cashel Byron?”
“No. Why?”
“Or a mother?”
“I have a mother; but I haven’t seen her for years; and I don’t much care if I never see her. It was through her that I came to be what I am.”
“Are you then dissatisfied with your profession?”
“No—I don’t mean that. I am always saying stupid things.”
“Yes. That comes of your ignorance of a sex accustomed to have its silliness respected. You will find it hard to keep on good terms with my friend without some further study of womanly ways.”
“As to her, I won’t give in that I’m wrong unless I AM wrong. The truth’s the truth.”
“Not even to please Miss Goff?”
“Not even to please you. You’d only think the worse of me afterwards.”