"She is a particular friend of mine. I have a high opinion of Maida Springer, and I think you have behaved to her like a ruffian."
"We are old friends. I have always wished her well, and she wishes me well, I am sure. An unkind word has never passed between us, and we have been constantly together for--let me see--all the time I have been staying here."
"I know that; and when a single man devotes himself in that open way to an unmarried woman, what does it mean, if not marriage? Was it honourable of you, Bertie Roe, to behave like that?"
"I do not consider myself a single man, Miss Rolph. I never shall--unless--unless--which God forbid!"
"Did you tell her you did not consider yourself single?"
"How could I, Miss Rolph? Do you think a man is made of wood and leather?"
"Then you left her to believe that you were single, Bertie Roe; and you should be ashamed of yourself. You told her--I have it from herself--that you were not married."
"Neither am I, Miss Rolph. The Divorce Court has annulled my marriage."
"You have behaved dishonourably, Bertie; and with callous cruelty besides, from what she told me, in betraying her weakness as you did, to the other. It was not a manly act, let me tell you. I expected better things of you."
"How could I know, or even suspect? Do you take me for so conceited an ass that I must needs suppose every woman I converse with is in love with me?"
"That will not do, Bertie. You are not such a stripling as not to know that girls expect to marry, that society forbids them to make the advance, and that if a man pays them undivided and conspicuous attention, they are entitled to believe that he means something."
"I never thought of that, Miss Rolph. If you will believe me, there is but one woman in the world I can ever feel towards in that way."
"And a pretty way you took to show your love!--deserted her--judgment by default--'cruelty and desertion'!"
"What could I do? She would not listen to reason. I could not let her name be dragged through the law reports in company with those of all the worst people in the State. No; you must acknowledge, Miss Rolph, that I showed forbearance and consideration there, at least. What would the charming little tempers we both remember have looked like, after being carded out and hackled by a pair of foul-mouthed lawyers? They would have made her a laughing-stock to the whole country. I know I was right in letting judgment go by default, though it went sorely against my grain to do it."