Gordon Wright, with his hands in his pockets and a meditative expression, took several turns about the room.
“It will be a capital chance,” he said, at last, stopping in front of his companion.
“A chance to arrive at a conclusion about my young friend.”
“Are you coming back to that? Did n’t I arrive at a conclusion long ago? Did n’t I tell you she was a delightful girl?”
“Do you call that a conclusion? The first comer could tell me that at the end of an hour.”
“Do you want me to invent something different?” Bernard asked. “I can’t invent anything better.”
“I don’t want you to invent anything. I only want you to observe her--to study her in complete independence. You will have her to yourself--my absence will leave you at liberty. Hang it, sir,” Gordon declared, “I should think you would like it!”
“Damn it, sir, you ‘re delicious!” Bernard answered; and he broke into an irrepressible laugh. “I don’t suppose it ‘s for my pleasure that you suggest the arrangement.”
“No, it ‘s for mine. At least, it ‘s for my benefit.”
“I have got all sorts of ideas--I told you the other day. They are all mixed up together and I want a fresh impression.”
“My impressions are never fresh,” Bernard replied.
“They would be if you had a little good-will--if you entered a little into my dilemma.” The note of reproach was so distinct in these words that Bernard stood staring. “You never take anything seriously,” his companion went on.
Bernard tried to answer as seriously as possible.
“Your dilemma seems to me of all dilemmas the strangest.”
“That may be; but different people take things differently. Don’t you see,” Gordon went on with a sudden outbreak of passion--“don’t you see that I am horribly divided in mind? I care immensely for Angela Vivian--and yet--and yet--I am afraid of her.”
“I am afraid she ‘s cleverer than I--that she would be a difficult wife; that she might do strange things.”
“Well, that she might flirt, for instance.”
“Not when he supposes his wife to be fond of him--no. But I don’t suppose that--I have given that up. If I should induce Angela Vivian to accept me she would do it on grounds purely reasonable. She would think it best, simply. That would give her a chance to repent.”
Bernard sat for some time looking at his friend.