Worthing had been up to see Maurice before dinner. He was rather quieter than usual until he and his host were left alone together. When Caroline and Miss Waterhouse had gone out of the room, he said at once: "Grafton, I've got to get something off my chest, and I may as well do it at once. I think the sooner young Bradby is moved out of here the better."
Grafton laughed, rather ruefully. "You should have said that a fortnight ago," he said. "It's too late now, James."
Worthing stared at him open-mouthed. "You don't mean to say--!"
"They've fallen in love with one another. She's as deep in it as he is."
Worthing struggled with his consternation. "But--but--but--" was all he could say, and each 'but' marked a question to which he wanted an answer.
"What do you see in the boy, James?" asked Grafton. "He's been living with you for over a year now. You must know him as well as anybody."
Worthing found his voice. "What do I see in him?" he said. "I don't see a husband for Caroline in him. I call it an infernal piece of impudence. Surely you're not going to allow it! Why, he's hardly begun his work yet. He couldn't expect to marry anybody, for years to come. And a girl like Caroline! Good Lord! What's the world coming to?"
He seemed greatly disturbed. "I feel as if I was to blame, in bringing him here," he said. "But I never thought--"
"Well, it's natural that you should take that view, at first. I took it myself when I first had their letters. It was about the biggest startler I've ever had. But you know Caroline, James. She loves him. If you can find the answer to the riddle why she loves him, for yourself--!"
"That's not very difficult. He saved her life, and nearly lost his own in doing it. She's been looking after him. Women are like that, and young girls especially. You don't have to know much about them to see that; there are thousands of instances."
"That's what it will look like to everybody, I know. But it wouldn't be enough for Caroline."
"Caroline's one of the best girls that ever stepped. All your girls are; they're quite out of the common. But human nature works in them just the same as in anybody else. Why, you've seen it yourself, in Beatrix. She fell in love with a wrong 'un. You stopped that; and now she's got the right man. Supposing _she'd_ married the first fellow she fell in love with!"