"Sir?"
"You were courting her."
"Courting!"
"Ah—you deny it! Well, let us see!"
And to Mr. Jinks' profound consternation he raised his voice, and said, laughing:
"Tell me, Miss Sallianna, if my friend Jinks has not been courting you?"
"Oh, sir!" cried Miss Sallianna, in a flutter.
"Did you say, no?" continued Ralph, pretending to so understand the lady; "very well, then, I may advise you, my dear Jinks, not to do so."
"Do what, sir?"
"Court Miss Sallianna."