Go on! When did he ask to be presented to--your
sister?"
"W-who told you that?" asked the boy with an angry flush.
"You did--almost. You were going to, anyway. So that was it, was it?
That was when you realised a few things--understood one or two things;
was it not? . . . And how did you reply? Arrogantly, I suppose."
"Yes."
"With--a--some little show of--a--contempt?"
"Yes, I suppose so."
"Exactly. And Neergard--was put out--slightly?"
"Yes," said the boy, losing some of his colour. "I--a moment afterward I
was sorry I had spoken so plainly; but I need not have been. . . . He
was very ugly about it."
"Threats of calling loans?" asked Selwyn, smiling.
"Hints; not exactly threats. I was in a bad way, too--" The boy winced
and swallowed hard; then, with sudden white desperation stamped on his
drawn face: "Oh, Philip--it--it is disgraceful enough--but how am I
going to tell you the rest?--how can I speak of this matter to you--"
"What matter?"
"A--about--about Mrs.
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