‘Look here, Hetta,’ he said.  ’It is no good going on like this.  I love Roger Carbury,—­as well as one man can love another.  He is all that you say,—­and more.  You hardly know how he denies himself, and how he thinks of everybody near him.  He is a gentleman all round and every inch.  He never lies.  He never takes what is not his own.  I believe he does love his neighbour as himself.’

‘Oh, Mr Montague!  I am so glad to hear you speak of him like that.’

’I love him better than any man,—­as well as a man can love a man.  If you will say that you love him as well as a woman can love a man...