'You might almost have begun with that,' said she with a smile.
'Was there need?' he asked. 'Since I thought every blade of grass in your garden was aware of it.' Then he stood for a second silent. 'Rose,' said he, savouring the name, and again 'Rose,' with a happy sort of laugh. But he moved no nearer to her.
Rose began to smile.
'I am glad,' said she demurely, 'that you find the name to your liking.'
'It is the prettiest name in the world,' cried he with enthusiasm.
'I am much beholden to my parents,' said she.
'But, my dear,' he continued, 'you put it to shame.'
The girl uttered a sigh which meant 'At last!' but Mr. Kelly was in that perturbation that he altogether misunderstood it.
'But you mustn't believe, my dear, it's for your looks I love you,' he said earnestly. 'No, it's for your self; it's for the shining perfections of your nature. Sure I have seen good-looking women before to-day.'
'I have no doubt of that,' she said, tapping with her foot on the pavement.