'
Jasper roared irreverently, and his companion looked hurt.
'But I am perfectly serious, I assure you. To go back only three
or four years. There was the daughter of my landlady in Barham
Street; well, a nice girl enough, but limited, decidedly limited.
Next came that girl at the stationer's--you remember? She was
distinctly an advance, both in mind and person. Then there was
Miss Embleton; yes, I think she made again an advance. She had
been at Bedford College, you know, and was really a girl of
considerable attainments; morally, admirable. Afterwards--'
He paused.
'The maiden from Birmingham, wasn't it?' said Jasper, again
exploding.
'Yes, it was. Well, I can't be quite sure. But in many respects
that girl was my ideal; she really was.'
'As you once or twice told me at the time.'
'I really believe she would rank above Miss Embleton--at all
events from my point of view. And that's everything, you know.
It's the effect a woman produces on one that has to be
considered.'
'The next should be a paragon,' said Jasper.
'The next?'
Whelpdale again looked about the room, but added nothing, and
fell into a long silence.
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