“Not by Miss Lane!” said Harry again, in a louder voice. “Answer, you—conceited liar!”
“It is of no use to continue the discussion if you only lose your temper and throw your manners to the winds——”
“Harry’s manners!” chuckled Wilfred; but nobody took any notice of him.
“Say what you mean then, or by——”
“I only mean that I should have neglected my opportunities, and put a cruel slight upon a very pretty girl, if I had not got a kiss when I wished her good-night.”
“She would never have spoken to you again if you had done such a thing. She would have boxed your ears——”
“She would have done nothing of the kind. Your experience being confined to barmaids, who very naturally resent your rough overtures in the free-and-easy manner you describe, you cannot tell how a woman of more refinement accepts the homage due to her charms when it is properly offered.”
“I think this is blackguard talk,” said Wilfred; but the time had long gone past for him to get a hearing.
“You think she would have let you kiss her willingly?” said Harry, not so loudly as before, but with his whole frame quivering with restless excitement.
“I don’t wish to be boastful, but I think it most likely.”