"No, no!" Joseph replied rather hastily. "But life hasn't been easy for him, poor old chap! Well! life hasn't been easy for me either, and perhaps that helps me to understand him."
He smiled in a whimsical way, but as Valerie was not at all interested in the difficulties of his life, she did not realise that he had stopped being wordly-wise, and was now a Gallant and Pathetic figure. She said vaguely: "Oh yes, I suppose so!"
Joseph was finding her a little difficult. A less selfcentred young woman would have responded to this gambit, he felt, and would have asked him sympathetic questions. With a sigh, he accepted her disinterest, and said, resuming his role of kindly uncle: "But that's quite enough about me! My life is nearing its close, after all. But Stephen has his all before him. Ah, when I look back to what I was at Stephen's age, I can see so many points of similarity between us! I was ever a rebel, too. I expect you find that hard to believe of such a respectable old fogy, eh?"
"Oh no!" said Valerie.
"Eheu fugaces!" sighed Joseph. "When I look back, do you know, I can't find it in me to regret those carefree years?"
"Oh?" said Valerie.
"No," said Joseph, damped. "But why should I bore a pretty young thing like you with tales of my misspent youth? It was about Stephen I wanted to speak to you."
"He's been utterly foul all day," responded his betrothed with great frankness. "It makes it absolutely lousy for me, too, only he's so damned selfish I don't suppose he even thinks of that. As a matter of fact, I've got a complete hate against him at the moment."
"But you love him!" said Joseph, taken aback.
"Yes; but you know what I mean."