ding.
That's desirable and proper, ain't it?'

Neither of the sisters spoke a word. Mr Jonas paused and cleared his
throat, which was very dry.

'She'll not believe what I am going to say, will she, cousin?' said
Jonas, timidly squeezing Miss Charity.

'Really, Mr Jonas, I don't know, until I hear what it is. It's quite
impossible!'

'Why, you see,' said Jonas, 'her way always being to make game of
people, I know she'll laugh, or pretend to--I know that, beforehand. But
you can tell her I'm in earnest, cousin; can't you? You'll confess you
know, won't you? You'll be honourable, I'm sure,' he added persuasively.

No answer. His throat seemed to grow hotter and hotter, and to be more
and more difficult of control.

'You see, Cousin Charity,' said Jonas, 'nobody but you can tell her
what pains I took to get into her company when you were both at the
boarding-house in the city, because nobody's so well aware of it, you
know. Nobody else can tell her how hard I tried to get to know you
better, in order that I might get to know her without seeming to wish
it; can they? I always asked you about her, and said where had she gone,
and when would she come, and how lively she was, and all that; didn't I,
cousin? I know you'll tell her so, if you haven't told her so already,
and--and--I dare say you have, because I'm sure you're honourable, ain't
you?'

Still not a word. The right arm of Mr Jonas--the elder sister sat upon
his right--may have been sensible of some tumultuous throbbing which was
not within itself; but nothing else apprised him that his words had had
the least effect.

'Even if you kept it to yourself, and haven't told her,' resumed Jonas,
'it don't much matter, because you'll bear honest witness now; won't
you? We've been very good friends from the first; haven't we? and of
course we shall be quite friends in future, and so I don't mind speaking
before you a bit. Cousin Mercy, you've heard what I've been saying.
She'll confirm it, every word; she must. Will you have me for your
husband? Eh?'

As he released his hold of Charity, to put this question with better
effect, she started up and hurried away to her own room, marking her
progress as she went by such a train of passionate and incoherent sound,
as nothing but a slighted woman in her anger could produce.

'Let me go away. Let me go after her,' said Merry, pushing him off,
and giving him--to tell the truth--more than one sounding slap upon his
outstr