"No. I mean can't—just what I said. It wouldn't be fair to her. I can't pretend to love her when I don't."
"You don't have to," his uncle urged. "She's so crazy about you, she'd marry you anyway." Triumphant knowledge was in his tone.
"What makes you think so?" Gilbert asked, coming close to the old man.
"She told me she would." He got it out bravely.
Young Jones was nearly bowled over. "She told you!" he repeated; and as he said it, passion for the first time came into his voice. There was the sound of hoof beats down the road. But neither of them paid any attention.
"Absolutely," the old man affirmed.
"Absolutely?"
"Absogoshdarnlutely!" Uncle Henry relieved the tension by saying.
Gilbert came over and peered into his uncle's face. "You don't mean you spoke to her about it?" he said.
"Why not?" rather impudently. "Somebody had to do it." And he chuckled. "I know what would become of Hypocricy if a few of you youngsters would be as brave as us old boys!"