You yourself began the discussion about Miss King's chances
of marrying--"
"I said your friend's chances of marrying Miss King."
"It doesn't in the least matter which you said. The point just now is
that you knew perfectly well what I meant when I spoke of the proposal
at present under discussion."
"Has he proposed yet?"
"No, but he will this afternoon; and what I want to get at is whether
you're going to put a stop to the marriage or not."
"I, really-- Miss King is, I think, quite able to manage her own
affairs; and I shouldn't in any case care to interfere, beyond offering
advice in case your friend should turn out to be an obviously
unsuitable person."
"That's all right. I can't expect you to say more than that. I knew
all along that you didn't want to have the thing put to you at the
point of the bayonet. You'll recollect that I had no wish to force it
on you."
"You mustn't suppose," said the judge, "that I'm in any way committed
to a definite support--"
"Certainly not," said Meldon. "A man in your position couldn't. I
thoroughly understand that. And I hope you don't think that I've been
in any way disrespectful to you.
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