"Go easy," said Granning, with a warning glance.
But, contrary to expectation, Fred did not resent the attack. When he spoke, it was with a shrug of his shoulders, in a tired, unresisting voice:
"It's no use, Roscy. It's settled and done for."
"Why, Fred, old boy, can't you see clear?" said Roscy, coming to him with a changed tone. "Don't you know what this means? You're not a fool. Think! I'm not saying a word against Louise."
"You'd better not!" said Fred, flushing.
"Her character's as good as any one else's—granted that. But, Fred, that's not all. She's not of your world, her mother's not—her friends are not. If you marry her, Fred, as sure as there's a sun in heaven, you're ended, done for; you're dropped out of the world and you'll never get back!"
"Well, I'm going to do it," said DeLancy, stubbornly.
"You're going to do it and deliberately throw over every friend and every attachment you've got in life?"
"I don't admit that."
"What are you going to live on?" said Granning.