"In any case," said the Major, "I don't like women who flirt. And you told me yourself that she tried to flirt with you."
"Ah," said Meldon, "now we're getting at your real reasons. I thought you couldn't be in earnest about the Nietzschean philosophy. That was merely an excuse. What you're really afraid of is that Miss King might marry you. I don't blame you for being a little cautious about that, knowing what you do about the fate of her former husbands. At the same time I may point out--"
"I'm not the least afraid of her marrying me. She won't get the chance."
"Then why do you say you object to her flirting?"
"Because I do object to it. I don't like that kind of woman."
"Do you mean to say, Major, that a girl isn't to be allowed to make eyes at the man she's going to marry?"
"I don't say anything of the sort. Of course, if she's going to marry a man--but really, J. J., I don't know anything about these things."
"Then don't talk about them. You may take my word for it, Major, that Miss King is perfectly justified in being as nice as ever she can to Simpkins."
"I never said anything about Simpkins. As far as I can make out she isn't particularly nice to Simpkins."
"No, she isn't, so far; but that's only because she hasn't had a fair chance. When we get them out together in the _Spindrift_--"
"When we get the two of them out together in the _Spindrift_," said Meldon, speaking slowly and distinctly, "you'll see that she'll make herself perfectly fascinating--not to you or me, but to Simpkins."
"Leaving Miss King out of the question," said the Major, "I'd like you to be perfectly clear about this. I won't--"
"Before we go on to Simpkins," said Meldon, "we must settle definitely about Miss King. Is it understood that you catch her after church tomorrow and invite her out for a sail with us in the _Spindrift_?"
"No; I won't. I wouldn't in any case; but if Simpkins--"
"I'm not going on to Simpkins yet. I must finish Miss King first. You've given your reasons for not making her acquaintance, and I've shown you that they are utterly feeble and won't hold water for a minute. If you've no other objection, then I think, as a straightforward man, you are bound to admit you are in the wrong and do what you ought to have been ready to do without all this arguing."