"Well then, without repeating all he said, as no doubt I should fail to do him justice, he told me very bluntly that he wanted a wife, and asked me to consent to have him for a husband. Of course, as you may well imagine, I declined that honour. He did not take my reply kindly, at which I was not altogether surprised, as I suppose no man, if he is in earnest (and I have no reason to doubt but that he was), would be likely to do. But after questioning and cross-examining me as to who I was preferring before him, he concluded that he thought he knew who the person was. It was then he said——"
Jessie paused, evidently reluctant to proceed.
"What did he say?" inquired Fellows eagerly.
"I don't feel as if I can tell you," she replied.
"Don't hesitate, dear," he said encouragingly.
"He never mentioned your name, but I felt all the time he was referring to you."
"Never mind, darling, you have gone too far now not to tell me all."
"Well, he said the man he referred to was a worthless, dishonest scoundrel, not fit to be the companion of any honest woman."
"And you had sufficient confidence in me not to be influenced by that statement?"
"Can you doubt it," she replied, "after what has passed to-day?"