"You could have counted me out over that, George. He said it in the most matter-of-fact way, standing by the fireplace with his hands in his pockets. I didn't know what to say. I looked at her. She was leaning forward with her hands round her knees and her head bent. Her eyes were full of tears, and I couldn't make out if she was frightfully happy or frightfully miserable.
"'What's your view, Oakleigh?' he asked.
"'I ... I don't know yet, sir,' I stammered. It was a damned unfair question, George.
"'We were engaged when I was sixteen,' said Miss Dainton.
"'Well, what have you been waiting for?' I asked. It was awful cheek, but it slipped out. The Panther simply yelled with laughter.
"'Then—in my place, Oakleigh?' he asked.
"'Rather, sir!' I said. I was warming to the job. I had a look at her, but she didn't seem to mind.
"The Panther thought it over for a minute. Then he sobered down and said very quietly:
"'If you were blind?'
"'It doesn't seem to make any difference to you, sir,' I said.