“Why not?”
“Because—you—I know you are engaged.”
He turned upon her, a little fiercely. “How did you know that?”
“Some one told me.”
“Well, what if I am?” he said. “I suppose you think me insincere—and a beast.”
“No, I was thinking of myself. I knew you were engaged. I ought not to have allowed you to go ahead.”
“Hell,” he said, “it isn’t your fault. It’s Georgie’s fault. I didn’t want her to go abroad. I told her that I couldn’t stand it. But she laughed, not being able to understand a man’s point of view. She laughed and said that if I really loved her, it would be easy. But it isn’t easy, and I do love her.”
“Have you loved her—long?”
“All my life. We were brought up together. I can’t remember any girls at all, without having the impression of Georgie mixed up with them somehow.”
“And you have done—this—before?”