Page:Paul Clifford Vol 2.djvu/128

120 "No!" answered Clifford, quickly; "that thought gives me no pleasure—you stare. I will try and explain. You know, dear Tomlinson, I'm not much of a canter, and yet my heart shrinks when I look on that innocent face, and hear that soft, happy voice, and think that my love to her can be only ruin and disgrace; nay, that my very address is contamination, and my very glance towards her an insult."

"Hey day!" quoth Tomlinson, "have you been under my instructions, and learned the true value of words? and can you have any scruples left on so easy a point of conscience? True, you may call your representing yourself to her as an unprofessional gentleman, and so winning her affections, deceit; but why call it deceit when a genius for intrigue is so much neater a phrase: in like manner, by marrying the young lady, if you say you have ruined her, you justly deserve to be annihilated; but why not say you have 'saved yourself,' and then, my dear fellow, you