"I'll be as good as my word, Mr. Newton. The money shall be all there,—down on the nail."
"But, you see, your wife is against me."
"Blow my wife. You don't think Polly 'd do what her mother tells her? Who's got the money-bag? That's the question. You go down and pop it straight. You ain't afraid of an old woman, I suppose;—nor yet of a young un. Don't mind waiting for more dinners, or anything of that kind. They likes a man to be hot about it;—that's what they likes. You're sure to find her any time before dinner;—that's at one, you know. May be she mayn't be figged out fine, but you won't mind that. I'll go bail you'll find the flesh and blood all right. Just you make your way in, and say what you've got to say. I'll make it straight with the old woman afterwards."
Ralph Newton had hitherto rather prided himself on his happy management of young ladies. He was not ordinarily much afflicted by shyness, and conceived himself able to declare a passion, perhaps whether felt or feigned, as well as another. And now he was being taught how to go a-wooing by his breeches-maker! He did not altogether like it, and, as at this moment his mind was rather set against the Hendon matrimonial speculation, he was disposed to resent it. "I think you're making a little mistake, Mr. Neefit," he said.
"What mistake? I don't know as I'm making any mistake. You'll be making a mistake, and so you'll find when the plum's gone."
"It's just this, you know. When you suggested this thing to me—"
"Well;—yes; I did suggest it, and I ain't ashamed of it."
"I was awfully grateful. I had met your daughter once or twice, and I told you I admired her ever so much."
"That's true;—but you didn't admire her a bit more than what she's entitled to."
"I'm sure of that. But then I thought I ought,—just to,—know her a little better, you see. And then how could I presume to think she'd take me till she knew me a little better?"