"Really, Maurice—I hope you will excuse my saying it—I think that charge could be brought against you more justly."
"Do you mean to say I am stuck up?" asked Maurice, indignantly.
"Perhaps it is only your manner."
"But do you think I seem so?"
"More than Gilbert."
"You seem very familiar with Grey, to call him Gilbert."
"Of course I am familiar with him. Why shouldn't I be?"
"It doesn't show very good taste on your part."
"I don't know about that. Gilbert is popular in society. You know that at parties he never has any difficulty in filling up his card."
Maurice did know that at the parties when both were present, Gilbert was received with much more favor than himself, and this was one of the circumstances that made him angry with his fellow-clerk. Few can pardon a wound to their self-love.