"Because, Julian, if that woman knows into what she is drifting, then it will be a case of Clarence over again, and I am going to save my poor Mark from her. And if she doesn't know, I am going to tell her, whatever it costs me to speak about it, that Mark is a married man."
X
Edna had no immediate opportunity of putting her altruistic designs into execution. Miss Marchrose was not easily available, and Mark Easter was reported to be less frequently at the College in consequence of the business devolving upon him in connection with Iris' approaching marriage.
"I don't know why Iris is in such a hurry, but they are going to be married at the beginning of the new year," Lady Rossiter told her husband. "Mr. Garrett is going to stay on down here."
"What an ass!"
Lady Rossiter always looked a little pained at a flippant or unkind reference to anyone. She did so now, and replied gently:
"He is very young and first love is a very beautiful thing. He naturally wants to stay where Iris is."
To which Sir Julian responded with an even greater intensity of conviction in his voice than before:
"What an ass!"
The chief manifestations indulged in by first love, as personified by Miss Easter and Mr. Garrett, were perhaps not altogether unaccountable for Sir Julian's lack of enthusiasm.