pwopose to me
the first opportunity he gets. I know it quite well. Don't you always
know, Peggy, when they are twying to speak out?"

"Always!" repeated Peggy, with a little gasp of dismay. "That's too
wholesale a word for me, Rosalind! The only experience of the kind I
have had happened in India, and I was entirely unprepared, for, as a
matter of fact, I cherished a profound aversion for the victim! I
didn't dislike him afterwards, though! I was so grieved for the poor
fellow's distress, so grateful to him for liking me so much, that I felt
quite tenderly towards him. It was the most unpleasant experience I
have ever had, and I want only one more proposal--one to which I can
say, `Yes, please!' and settle down in peace and comfort. Do you care
enough for the _parti_ to be able to say, `Yes, please!' to him,
Rosalind?"

"I don't dislike him. He is good-looking, and not nearly so stupid as
many of the men one meets. Sometimes I think I could get on with him
reasonably well, but at other times I can't--I weally _can't_ face it!
Then I keep out of his way, and am cold and weserved, and twy to put it
off a little longer. But it will come, I know it will! I shall have to
face it soon, and I feel as I used to do when I was a child and had a
visit to the dentist before me. I twy to forget it, and be happy, but
evewy now and then the wemembwance comes back like a sudden pain, and
catches my bweath. Oh, Peggy, isn't it difficult--isn't it twying?
Aren't you sowwy for me?"

"No!" said Peggy Saville stoutly. "Not a mite!" She lifted her head
and looked the other squarely in the face. Her eyes were astonishingly
bright, and there was a patch of colour on each cheek. "Pray, why
_should_ I be sorry? If you look upon the question as a pure matter of
business, I cannot see that you deserve any sympathy. I am sorry for
_him_! He seems to be an extremely good bargain, and it is hard on him
to be regarded in the light of a disagreeable necessity. I suppose he
is devoted to you, and hopes, poor wretch! that you are going to accept
him for himself. For you _will_ accept him, Rosalind! That's certain.
You may imagine that you have not made up your mind, but you have! You
could never have the courage to give up all those good things. Why
should you, indeed? They mean more to you than anything else. You
would never feel any temptation to love a man who was not rich!"

Peggy spoke in crisp, stinging little senten