"When I told him what I had arranged with you, he wanted to start off for Shanklin there and then. It was with the greatest difficulty that I got him to listen to common sense--I never saw a man in such a state of imbecility. Finally, I agreed that if you failed then he should have his chance."
"But I didn't fail."
"Well, it looks queer."
"Looks queer! Do you want to drive me mad? And I paid twenty pounds for my engagement-ring! Do you think I should buy engagement-rings if I wasn't sure that it was clear? A girl promises to be my wife, and another man comes directly after and eggs her on to break her word! Looks queer! I should think it does, by George! Look here, Ash, if you think I'm going to sit down quietly and stand this sort of thing, you're wrong!"
"Shall I tell you what my own opinion of the matter is?"
"Get it out!"
"The girl's a fool!"
"She's either that or something worse."
"I have only to go down and talk the matter over with her quietly, and you'll see it will be all right."
"You go down! And where do you suppose that I shall be?"