"What is the other?" inquired Joan, as he paused.
"The other," said Mr. Vyner slowly and lowering his voice, "the other stands before you. All he can urge in his favour is, that he is younger than Trimblett, and, as I have said on another occasion, with——"
"If there is nothing more than that in his favour——" said Joan turning away.
"Nothing," said Robert, humbly, "unless—"
"Unless what?"
"Unless you know of anything."
Joan Hartley, her gaze still averted, shook her head.
"Still," said Mr. Vyner, with an air of great thoughtfulness, "a paragon would be awful to live with. Awful. Fancy marrying Bassett for instance! Fancy being married to a man you could never find fault with."
"There is a third course open to me," said Joan, turning round. "I could go away."
Mr. Vyner got up slowly and took a step toward her. "Would you—would you sooner go away than stay with me?" he said in a low voice.