But he looked curiously at Eric when the two young men found themselves alone in the upstairs room . `` Now , Eric , I want to know what all this is about . What scrape have you got into ? You write me a letter , entreating me in the name of friendship to come to you at once . Accordingly I come post haste . You seem to be in excellent health yourself . Explain why you have inveigled me hither . '' `` I want you to do me a service which only you can do , David , '' said Eric quietly . `` I did n't care to go into the details by letter . I have met in Lindsay a young girl whom I have learned to love . I have asked her to marry me , but , although she cares for me , she refuses to do so because she is dumb . I wish you to examine her and find out the cause of her defect , and if it can be cured . She can hear perfectly and all her other faculties are entirely normal . In order that you may better understand the case I must tell you the main facts of her history . '' This Eric proceeded to do . David Baker listened with grave attention , his eyes fastened on his friend 's face . He did not betray the surprise and dismay he felt at learning that Eric had fallen in love with a dumb girl of doubtful antecedents ; and the strange case enlisted his professional interest . When he had heard the whole story he thrust his hands into his pockets and strode up and down the room several times in silence . Finally he halted before Eric . `` So you have done what I foreboded all along you would do -- left your common sense behind you when you went courting . ''
`` If I did , '' said Eric quietly , `` I took XXXXX me something better and nobler than common sense . ''
although because for if in into of on to with