“Many of us have been through that,” said John, calmly; “it is not fatal.”
“But,” said Vane, “my constitution may be more delicate. I am not a hide-bound rhinoceros.”
“Neither,” said John, “am I.” And he defended the aspersion upon his epidermis with a quadrupedal sigh.
“But I want to marry her.”
“That is also a symptom. You need not do it, however.”
“What do you know against her?”
“Nothing; but Ten Eyck has rather too heavy a prior mortgage.”
“I don’t care for Ten Eyck.”
“The question is, whether she does.”
“I know very well that she can’t.”