The face of Mr. Fern was a study as he heard this explanation.
"If he was an honorable man, why did he not come to me?" he asked, pointedly.
"He was constantly seeking Miss Daisy's permission to do so," replied Archie. "Which she never seemed quite willing to give him."
"She is too young to think of marriage," mused Mr. Fern, after a long pause.
"He is willing to wait; but her present attitude, giving him no hope whatever, has thrown him into the deepest dejection."
From this Mr. Weil proceeded to tell Mr. Fern all he knew about Roseleaf. He said the young man was at present engaged on literary work that promised to yield him good returns. He had a small fortune of his own beside. Everything that could be thought of in his favor was dilated upon to the fullest extent.
"I don't believe I can spare my 'baby,'" said Mr. Fern, kindly, "for any man. You plead with much force, Mr. Weil, for your friend. How is it that you have never married. Are you blind to the charms of the sex?"
For an instant Archie was at loss how to reply.
"On the contrary," he said, at last, "I appreciate them fully. I have had my heart's affair, too; but," he paused a long time, "she loved another, and there was but one woman for me. Perhaps this leads me to sympathize all the more with my unfortunate young friend."