"Yes; but then it was not a question of marriage. It was only a question of being accepted as a possible husband."
"The same thing. No man of honour can win a woman's promise to be his wife and then jilt her."
"A great many do it. Besides, women don't care."
"Don't they? Why do you think so?"
"Because women are women. And it isn't as though this Miss Castlemaine had fears of being placed on the shelf."
"You are very cool about it, old man."
"Quite the reverse. I am quite excited. Just fancy my scheming to be the promised husband of a beautiful heiress, a sort of glorified Quakeress, rich, pious, and high-minded. Winning an election will be a small thing compared with winning her."
"But surely you'll not try and carry the thing through?"
"Why?"
"Because you don't love her."