"Practice, like," said Dawn.
"You can say that if you like," he gravely replied.
"Well, things were rather mixed, but now I know what I want."
"And that you don't want me?" he interposed.
"Well, you can marry Ada Grosvenor or Dora Cowper."
"We can leave that to the future; it doesn't enter into this question at all," he said with a dignity that made the girl ashamed of herself. "There will be no difficulty about my marrying, the main thing is whether you are all right. It's easier for a man than a girl if he does make a hash of it."
"Oh, Claude, don't be so good and generous, or you'll make me mad because I'm not going to have you after all."
"Good and generous! Nonsense! I'm only doing what any decent fellow would do; you'd do as much and more for me if things were reversed," he said, taking her hand. "Great Scott, what sort of a crawler did you take me for? Did you think I'd cut up nasty about it? Surely you knew I'd wish you well even if you were not for me; but won't you tell me who it is that has put my light out?"
"Can't you guess?"
"Well, I suppose it's—"