anything in the world that I wish you
to do--spend all the money you have in the world in buying me ribbons
and fairings, and then--"

"And then, what?"

"Why, then, I shall hear all you have to say, take all you have to give,
and laugh at you in the bargain."

"But I shouldn't stand that long."

"O, yes, you would. I'd put you out of humour, and coax you in again;
the fact is, Jacob Faithful, I made my mind up, before I saw you, that
you should be my sweetheart, and when I will have a thing, I will, so
you may as well submit to it at once. If you don't, as I keep the key
of the cupboard, I'll half starve you; that's the way to tame any brute,
they say. And I tell you why, Jacob, I mean that you shall be my
sweetheart; it's because Mr Turnbull told me that you knew Latin; now,
tell me, what is Latin?"

"Latin is a language which people spoke in former times, but now they do
not."

"Well, then, you shall make love to me in Latin, that's agreed."

"And how do you mean to answer me?"

"O, in plain English, to be sure."

"But how are you to understand me?" replied I, much amused with the
conversation.

"O, if you make love properly, I shall soon understand you; I shall read
the English of it in your eyes."

"Very well, I have no objection; when am I to begin?"

"Why, directly, you stupid fellow, to be sure. What a question!"

I went close up to Mary, and repeated a few words of Latin. "Now," says
I, "look into my eyes, and see if you can translate them."

"Something impudent, I'm sure," replied she, fixing her blue eyes on
mine.

"Not at all," replied I, "I only asked for this," and I snatched a kiss,
in return for which I received a box on the ear, which made it tingle
for five minutes. "Nay," replied I, "that's not fair; I did as you
desired--I made love in Latin."

"And I answered you, as I said I would, in plain English," replied Mary,
reddening up to the forehead, but directly after bursting out into a
loud laugh. "Now, Mr Jacob, I plainly see that you know nothing about
making love. Bless me, a year's dangling, and a year's pocket-money
should not have given you what you have had the impudence to take in so
many minutes. But it was my own fault, that's certain, and I have no
one to thank but myself. I hope I didn't hurt you--I'm very sorry if I
did; but no more making love in Latin. I've had quite enough of that."

"Well, then, suppose we make friends," replied I, holding out my hand.