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Rh wonderful — not that I don’t hope she’d come to love me in time—

[Sharply]

And just what do you expect me to do about all this?

[Taken aback]

Why—er—nothing, sir. I just thought you ought to know.

[Sheepishly he glances up at ceiling, then down at floor, twiddling his hat]

[Thinking—at first with a grudging appreciation and envy]

He thinks he means that pure love! it’s easy to talk he doesn’t know life  but he might be good for Nina  if she were married to this simpleton would she be faithful? and then I? what a vile thought! I don’t mean that!

[Then forcing a kindly tone]

You see, there’s really nothing I can do about it.

[With a smile]

If Nina will, she will—and if she won’t, she won’t. But I can wish you good luck.

[Immediately all boyish gratitude]

Thanks! That’s darn fine of you, Mr. Marsden!

But I think we’d better let the subject drop, don’t you? We’re forgetting that her father—