I cannot
understand you at all. I must go on now.'
'Why, good God!' exclaimed Stephen passionately, 'you talk as if
you hadn't at all taken her away from anybody who had better
claims to her than you!'
'What do you mean by that?' said Knight, with a puzzled air.
'What have you heard?'
'Nothing. I too must go on. Good-day.'
'If you will go,' said Knight, reluctantly now, 'you must, I
suppose. I am sure I cannot understand why you behave so.'
'Nor I why you do. I have always been grateful to you, and as far
as I am concerned we need never have become so estranged as we
have.'
'And have I ever been anything but well-disposed towards you,
Stephen? Surely you know that I have not! The system of reserve
began with you: you know that.'
'No, no! You altogether mistake our position. You were always
from the first reserved to me, though I was confidential to you.
That was, I suppose, the natural issue of our differing positions
in life. And when I, the pupil, became reserved like you, the
master, you did not like it. However, I was going to ask you to
come round and see me.'
'Where are you staying?'
'At the Grosvenor Hotel, Pimlico.'
'So am I.'
'That's convenient, not to say odd. Well, I am detained in London
for a day or two; then I am going down to see my father and
mother, who live at St. Launce's now. Will you see me this
evening?'
'I may; but I will not promise.
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