“Who says?” said Jack; and he could not prevent a certain flush from rising to his face. “Let every man mind his own business, and woman too. As for you, Keppel, you would be inexcusable if you were to do any thing ridiculous in that way. A young fellow with a good profession that may carry him as high as he likes--as high as he cares to work for, I mean; of course nothing was ever done without work--and you waste your time going after every girl in the place--Fanny Hardcastle one day, somebody else the next. You’ll come to a bad end, if you don’t mind.” “What is a fellow to do?” said Keppel. “When I see a nice girl--I am not a block of wood, like you--I can’t help seeing it. When a man has got eyes in his head, what is the use of his being reasoned with by a man who has none?” “As good as yours any day,” said Jack, with natural indignation. “What use do you make of your eyes? I have always said marrying early was a mistake; but, by Jove, marrying early is better than following every girl about like a dog. Fanny Hardcastle would no more have you than Lady Godiva--” “How do you know that?” said Keppel, quickly. “Besides--I--don’t--want her to have me,” he added, with deliberation; and thereupon he occupied himself for a long time very elaborately in lighting his cigar. “It is all very well to tell me that,” said Jack. “You want every one of them, till you have seen the next. But look here, Keppel; take my advice: never look at a woman again for ten years, and then get married off-hand, and you’ll bless me and my good counsel for all the rest of your life.” “Thank you,” said Keppel. “You don’t say what I’m to do with myself during the ten years; but, Jack, good advice is admirable, only one would like to know that one’s physician healed himself.” “Physicians never heal themselves; it is an impossibility upon the face of it,” said Jack, calmly. “A doctor is never such an idiot as to treat his own case. Don’t you know that? When I want ghostly counsel, I’ll go to--Mr. Hardcastle. I never attempt to advise myself--” “You think he’d give Fanny to you,” said Keppel, ruefully, “all for the sake of a little money. I hate moneyed people,--give us another cigar;--but she wouldn’t have you, Jack. I hope I know a little better than that.” “So much the better,” said Jack; “nor you either, my boy, unless you come into a fortune. Mr. Hardcastle knows better than that. Are we going to stay here all day? I’ve got something to do up at the house.” “What have you got to do? I’ll walk up that way with you,” said Keppel, lifting his basket from the grass. “Well, it is not exactly at the house,” said Jack. “The fact is, I am in no particular hurry; I have somebody to see in the village--that is, on the road to Ridley; let’s walk that way, if you like.” “Inhospitable, by Jove!” said Keppel. “I believe, after all, what they say must be true.”