“There’s one thing, Stephen⁠ ⁠…” John hesitated and stammered a little. “I’ve heard some awful rumours about⁠ ⁠… about that girl⁠ ⁠… immoral and so on⁠ ⁠… they’re not true, are they?⁠ ⁠… anyhow, don’t let’s encourage them, Stephen⁠ ⁠… it’s not necessary⁠ ⁠… and I don’t like it.⁠ ⁠…” He stopped, and was aware that he was blushing.

It was a lame presentation of what he had intended as a firm unanswerable ultimatum: “If you want me to help you, you must drop all this.” But Stephen somehow always intimidated him.

Stephen thought, “The damned old prig!” He said, “What do you mean, John? You don’t imagine I⁠ ⁠… these servants, I suppose⁠ ⁠… but I quite agree.⁠ ⁠… I must go and see Margery now. So long, John⁠ ⁠… and thank you so much.”