“I’m not a marrying man, that’s all,” he blundered on, still struggling with incomprehension.
She remained silent a moment.
“You say that, because you believe you oughtn’t to marry, don’t you, Phil?”
“I say it because I’m not going to marry—until I know just where I stand—just what I’m worth in a long game. Single, I haven’t hurt anybody but myself, but I’m not going to let any woman——”
He stopped suddenly. And then with an abrupt gesture rose.
“I can’t talk of this, Nina,” he said quickly. “You must see it’s—it’s impossible. You’re not in love with me—or likely to be——”
“Oh, I’m in no hurry. I might learn,” she said calmly.
There was no refuge from her quiet insistence but in laughter, and so, brutally, he took it.
“Really, Nina, if I hadn’t known you all my life, I could almost believe you serious.”
“Don’t laugh! I am,” she said immovably.