Oh! That!"

"Yes. That is one question, supreme to me, about which I wish to have
your views. Do you think you would be happier or unhappier,--if you were
married?"

"That is a question. It would depend upon--my husband, would it not?"

"Suppose that we were----"

"Don't call names, please. I couldn't suppose such a thing. I have
promised not to."

"Promised not to, I don't understand?"

"I mean that I have made a bet. You don't think I am horrid to bet, do
you? Of course you don't. Well, I have made a curious bet with Bob, Mr.
Mitchel, you know. I call him Bob now, and I used to do it sometimes
before. That was when I wanted him to do anything for me. It made him
feel like one of the family. Well, to tell you about my bet. You see,
sometimes, when Emily was out, Bob would play make love to me. He said
it would be good practice for me; would teach me the ways of the world
and all that sort of thing. Oh! Bob is a curious man, but he is great
sport. Don't you like him?"

"Immensely. But you have not told me yet about your bet."

"I am coming to it. Well, one day when he was making love to me, and I
was doing my best, suddenly he burst out laughing, and said: 'Dora, I'll
bet you'll be engaged within six months of our marriage.' 'How much?'
said I. 'As much as you like,' said he. I asked him if he would make it
a thousand dollars, and he whistled and called me a little gambler. But
I don't think it was gambling, because I was to have a certainty. Of
course I wanted the stake to be a large one. So it was agreed, and he
wrote it down on paper. I'll show it to you sometime if you like. If I
am not engaged before the 1st of January, Bob will have to pay me a
thousand dollars."

"And you mean to win that bet?"

"Indeed I do. I am young and can afford to wait that long, I am sure.
There will be time enough afterwards to get a husband."

"Then it would not make any difference how anxious a suitor might be to
have his reply at once?"

"No, certainly not. If a man did not love me enough to wait a few months
for his answer I should think myself well rid of him. Besides it would
give me a chance to study him."

"Suppose--but no--I do ask you. Miss Dora--Dora--I love you madly,
passionately, and----"

"Well, don't say any more. If that is true, and you love me madly,
passionately, why then you will surely wait till January for your
answer." This was said rather curtly, and Mr. Thauret's hopes sank, but
rose again to