"And you look on me," said Waymark, after thinking for a moment, "as an insensible dog, with a treasure thrown at his feet which he is quite incapable of appreciating or making use of?"
"No. I only feel that your position must be a very difficult one. But perhaps you had rather not speak of these things?"
"On the contrary. You are perfectly right, and the position is as difficult as it well could be."
"You had made your choice, I suppose, before you knew Ida at all?"
"So far from that, I haven't even made it yet. I am not at all sure that my chance of ever marrying Maud Enderby is not so utterly remote, that I ought to put aside all thought of it. In that case—"
"But this is a strange state of mind," said Julian, with a forced laugh. "Is it possible to balance feelings in this way?"
"You, in my position, would have no doubt?"
"I don't know Miss Enderby," said Julian, reddening.
Waymark walked up and down the room, with his hands behind his back, his brows bent. He had never told his friend anything of Ida's earlier history; but now he felt half-tempted to let him know everything. To do so, might possibly give him that additional motive to a clear and speedy decision in the difficulties which grew ever more pressing. Yet was it just to Ida to speak of these things even to one who would certainly not repeat a word? Once or twice he all but began, yet in the end a variety of motives kept him silent.
"Well," he exclaimed shortly, "we'll talk about this another time. Perhaps I shall have more to tell you. Don't be gloomy. Look, here I am just upon the end of my novel. If all goes smoothly I shall finish it in a fortnight, and then I will read it to you."