"Why did you try to make love to her?"
This inquiry was made in a tone so expressive of an unbiassed
truth-seeking habit that Bernard's mirth was not immediately quenched.
Nevertheless, he replied with sufficient gravity--
"To test her fidelity to you. Could you have expected anything else? You
told me you were afraid she was a latent coquette. You gave me a chance,
and I tried to ascertain."
"And you found she was not. Is that what you mean?"
"She 's as firm as a rock. My dear Gordon, Miss Vivian is as firm as the
firmest of your geological formations."
Gordon shook his head with a strange positive persistence.
"You are talking nonsense. You are not serious. You are not telling me
the truth. I don't believe that you attempted to make love to her.
You would n't have played such a game as that. It would n't have been
honorable."
Bernard flushed a little; he was irritated.
"Oh come, don't make too much of a point of that! Did n't you tell me
before that it was a great opportunity?"
"An opportunity to be wise--not to be foolish!"
"Ah, there is only one sort of opportunity," cried Bernard. "You
exaggerate the reach of human wisdom."
"Suppose she had let you make love to her," said Gordon.
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