"If you love Prudence you can."
"I don't know. I do love her, but she doesn't love me," said the young man, sulkily, "and if I can't get love in one quarter, I must in another. Do you see?"
"Oh, yes," said Clarice, cruelly. "I see that you love only one person, and that is yourself. What's the other woman's name?"
Ferdy started, and grew red. "The--the--the--other woman?"
"Yes. You talk about getting love in another quarter. In the Dumps quarter, I dare say."
"She's a lovely girl, and as good as they make them," said Ferdy, in a furious way; "don't you say a word against her, Clarry, for I won't stand it. You must respect her----"
"As my future sister-in-law?"
"Yes," said Ferdy, getting up to add dignity to his declaration. "Oh," remarked Miss Baird, coolly; "so you have proposed?"
"I have proposed, because Prudence chucked me, and Zara has accepted my hand."
"How delightfully you have arranged it all, Ferdy. Does Miss Dumps know about your income?"