“Why, I thought—I thought,” he began at last—“I thought that you disliked her!”
“I supposed so, too,” said Bernard. “But I have got over that.”
Gordon turned away, looking up the great avenue into the crowd. Then turning back, he said—
“I am very much surprised.”
“And you are not pleased!”
Gordon fixed his eyes on the ground a moment.
“I congratulate you on your engagement,” he said at last, looking up with a face that seemed to Bernard hard and unnatural.
“It is very good of you to say that, but of course you can’t like it! I was sure you would n’t like it. But what could I do? I fell in love with her, and I could n’t run away simply to spare you a surprise. My dear Gordon,” Bernard added, “you will get used to it.”
“Very likely,” said Gordon, dryly. “But you must give me time.”
“As long as you like!”