’Thetruthis，hehastwicetakenhisdaughterabroadinthehopeofseparatingherfromMrGowan。Heratherthinkssheisdisposedtolikehim，andhehaspainfuldoubtsIquiteagreewithhim，asIdaresayyoudoofthehopefulnessofsuchamarriage。’
’There——’Clennamchoked，andcoughed，andstopped。
’Yes，youhavetakencold，’saidDanielDoyce。Butwithoutlookingathim。
’Thereisanengagementbetweenthem，ofcourse？’saidClennamairily。
’No。AsIamtold，certainlynot。Ithasbeensolicitedonthegentleman’spart，butnonehasbeenmade。Sincetheirrecentreturn，ourfriendhasyieldedtoaweeklyvisit，butthatistheutmost。Minniewouldnotdeceiveherfatherandmother。Youhavetravelledwiththem，andIbelieveyouknowwhatabondthereisamongthem，extendingevenbeyondthispresentlife。AllthatthereisbetweenMissMinnieandMrGowan，Ihavenodoubtwesee。’