Confound these girls, I say, that have gone through
engagements with other fellows!"
"Oh, as to that," said Dacres, "this little thing is just like a
child, and in her very simplicity does not know what love is.
Engagement! By Jove, I don't believe she knows the meaning of the
word! She's perfectly fresh, artless, simple, and guileless. I don't
believe she ever heard a word of sentiment or tenderness from any man
in her life."
"Very likely; so where's the difficulty?"
"Well, to tell the truth, the difficulty is in my own affairs."
"Your affairs! Odd, too. What's up? I didn't know any thing had
happened. That's too infernal bad, too."
"Oh, it's nothing of that sort; money's all right; no swindle. It's an
affair of another character altogether."
"Oh!"
"And one, too, that makes me think that--"
He hesitated.
"That what?"
"That I'd better start for Australia."
"Australia!"
"Yes."
"What's the meaning of that?"
"Why," said Dacres, gloomily, "it means giving up the child-angel, and
trying to forget her--if I ever can."
"Forget her! What's the meaning of all this? Why, man, five minutes
ago you were all on fire about her, and now you talk quietly about
giving her up! I'm all adrift."
"Well, it's a mixed up matter."
"What is?"
"My affair."
"Your affair; something that has happened?"
"Yes. It's a sore matter, and I don't care to speak about it just
now."
"Oh!"
"And it's the real cause why I don't go back to England.
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