that I thought
myself."

Huldy looked up inquiringly.

"What would you say," asked the Professor, "if I told you that I thought
of gettin' married?"

"Well," replied Huldy, "I think my first question would be, 'have you
asked her?'"

"No, I haven't yet," said the Professor.

"Well, then, my advice to you," continued Huldy, "is don't delay; if you
do perhaps some other fellow may ask her first, and she may consent, not
knowing that you think so much of her."

"Well, I've thought of that," said the Professor. "I guess you're right.
What would you say," continued he, "if I told you that I had asked her?"

"Well, I should say," answered Huldy, "that you told me only a minute or
two ago that you hadn't."

"Well, I hadn't then," said the Professor.

"I don't really see how you have had any chance to ask her, as you say
you have," remarked Huldy, "in the short time that has passed since you
said you hadn't. I am not very quick at seeing a joke, Professor, but
p'raps I can understand what you mean, if you will tell me when you
asked her, and where you asked her to marry you."

"Just now! Right here!" cried the Professor; and before Huldy could
interpose he had arisen from his chair and had fallen on his knees
before her.

Huldy looked at him with a startled expression, then as the whole matter
dawned upon her she burst into a loud laugh. The Professor looked up
with a grieved expression on his face. Huldy became grave instantly.

"I wasn't laughing at you, Professor. I'm sure I'm grateful for your
esteem and friendship, but it never entered my head till this moment
that you had any idea of asking me to be your wife. What made you think
such a thing possible?"

The Professor was quite portly, and it was with some little difficulty
that he regained his feet, and his face was rather red with the exertion
when he had succeeded.

"Well, you see," said he, "I never thought much about it till that city
feller came down here to board; then the whole town knew that you and
'Zeke Pettengill had had a fallin' out, and then by and by that city
feller who was boardin' with your folks went away, and I kinder thought
that as you didn't have any steady feller--"

Huldy broke in,--"You thought I was in the market again and that your
chances were as good as those of any one else?"

"Yes, that's jest it," said the Professor. "You put it jest as I would
have said it, if you hadn't said it fust."

"Well, really, Professor, I