"What is this, brother Humphrey," asked Cornelius.
"I do not know, brother Cornelius," said the Artist.
"I will tell you," said Joseph, "what they have done. They made a disingenuous attempt to engage the affections of a rich young lady for the sake of her money."
"If Humphrey loved the girl——" began Cornelius.
"If Cornelius was devoted to Phillis Fleming——" began Humphrey.
"I was not, Humphrey," said Cornelius. "No such thing. And I told you so."
"I never did love her," said Humphrey. "I always said it was you."
This was undignified.
"I do not care which it was. It belongs to both. Then you went down to her again, under the belief that she was engaged to—to—the Lord knows which of you—and solemnly broke it off."
Neither spoke this time.