"No, my boy; but a word much the same in meaning, which begins with the same letter."
"Larking?" guessed the obtuse Jim, with a grin.
"I can't say much for your penetration, Lord Aldean," said Mallow, with a laugh. "Love is the word I mean--love is the feeling which thrills me, for 'to-day the birthday of my life is come.'"
"One would think you had been celebrating the occasion with strong drink," retorted Jim, soberly. "Have you spoken to Miss Bellairs?"
"No, sir; I have done nothing so foolish."
"Then has she perhaps given you to understand----"
"Of course not; do you think for one moment she is the woman to do such a thing?"
"I don't know; once or twice girls have pretty near proposed to me. I've had some trouble with them, I can tell you. Then how do you know it is all right?"
"Because I do know."
"That isn't an answer; it's a statement."