"
"Why? ... Because you're in love with her, yourself?"
Grant silently stared at the floor.
"Poor old chap," said Craig sympathetically.
Arkwright winced, started to protest, decided it was just as well
to let Craig think what he pleased at that juncture.
"Poor old chap!" repeated Josh. "Well, you needn't despair. It's
true she isn't in love with you and is in love with me. But if I
keep away from her and discourage her it'll soon die out. Women of
that sort of bringing up aren't capable of any enduring emotion--
unless they have outside aid in keeping it alive."
"No, thank you," said Arkwright bitterly. "I decline to be put in
the position of victim of your generosity. Josh, let me tell you,
your notion that she's in love with you is absurd. I'd advise you
not to go round confiding it to people, in your usual fashion.
You'll make yourself a laughing stock."
"I've told no one but you," protested Craig.
"Have you seen any one else since you got the idea?"
"No, I haven't," he admitted with a laugh. "Now that you've told
me the state of your heart I'll not speak of her feeling for me. I
give you my word of honor on that. I understand how a chap like
you, full of false pride, would be irritated at having people know
he'd married a woman who was once in love with some one else.
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