"Won't you sit down?"
"You have kept me standing in spirit these three years. Standing!—kneeling! Now, will you or won't you?"
"I do not care in the least for Mr. Page. He is merely an agreeable acquaintance."
"And Mr. Dabney?"
"The same. He entertains me—"
"Mr. Lee—Mr. Minor—Ned Hunter—"
"What applies to one applies to all."
"I am glad to hear it. All merely agreeable acquaintances. And Mr. Fairfax Cary? He is, perhaps, in the same category?"
"Perhaps. Oh, what a beautiful butterfly!—there, on that trumpet flower! I think it is a Tawny Emperor."
"I see," said the young man. "Excuse me a moment while I frighten him away." He gravely shook the trumpet vine, and the light splendour spread its wings and sailed to a securer realm. "Now that the Emperor is gone perhaps you will pay attention. Am I merely an agreeable acquaintance?"