'I don't feel much in the mood for jesting,' she answered. 'It would rather seem as if I had been made the subject of a jest——'
'Oh, you must not say that,' he interposed in an almost angry tone. 'You can't, and don't, think that either of him or of me.'
'No, I don't; I could not think it of you—and no, I could not think it of him either. But you must admit that he has acted rather oddly.'
'And I too, I suppose?'
'Oh, you—well, of course, you were naturally thinking of the interest, or, at least, the momentary wishes, of your friend.'
'Of my two friends—you are my friend. Did we not swear an eternal friendship the other night?'
'Now you are jesting.'
'I am not; I am profoundly serious. I thought perhaps this might be for the happiness of both.'
'Did you ever see anything in me which seemed to make such an idea likely?'
'You see, I have known you but for so short a time.'