“Wherever she is, whatever she’s doing, I must find her,” Michael went on.
“Well, if you go about it in that spirit, you’ll soon find her,” Barnes prophesied.
Michael looked at him sharply. He thought he noticed in Barnes’ manner a suggestion of humoring him. He rather resented the way in which Barnes seemed to encourage him as one might encourage a child.
“You understand I want to marry her?” Michael asked fiercely.
“That’s all right, old chap. I’m not trying to stop you, am I?”
“But why are you talking as if I weren’t in earnest?” Michael demanded. “When I first told you about it you were evidently very pleased, and now you’ve got a sneer which frankly I tell you I find extraordinarily objectionable.”
Barnes looked much alarmed by Michael’s sudden attack, and explained that he meant nothing by his remarks beyond a bit of fun.
“Is it funny to marry somebody?” Michael demanded.
“Sometimes it’s very funny to marry a tart,” said Barnes.
Michael flushed. This was a directness of speech for which he was not prepared.