"Why? Can you ask that?"
"Can I? Why certainly I can. I did ask you,—Why?"
"I declare, Mitchel, you are either as blind as a bat, or else you have eyes only for Miss Emily. Don't you see the danger that the younger sister is in, associating with that man?"
"Well now, Randolph, to be candid, I must admit I do not see the danger. What is it?"
"Why, suppose—suppose she fell in love with him? Suppose she married him!"
"Well, what then?"
"What then? You would provoke a saint. You talk as coolly about that child's throwing herself away on a—a nobody—as though we were discussing a shot at billiards."
"Randolph, my friend, let me give you a bit of advice. When a man wishes to marry a girl, there are two important rules which he must observe, and both of them I believe you have neglected."
"What do you mean?"
"Before I explain, let me ask you a question. Am I right in supposing that you wish to marry Dora yourself?"