She laughed, enjoying her power to tease.

"Oh, you want to know if I am going to be engaged to Harry or not?"

"You said 'not.'"

"No, I didn't. I simply said marrying him might—only 'might'—be another matter."

"Yes, yes," I agreed hurriedly, "but why?"

Muriel's answer was not one I should have dreamt of hearing from her.

Tilting her fair head, she smiled over her white shoulder and said:

"Oh, well! Because, after all, he isn't a gentleman, is he?"

This remark was a shock to me.

Harry Markham—"not a gentleman—" To hear Muriel say it!