“You speak feelingly,” said Taee’s sister, in a tone of voice half sad, half petulant. “You are married, of course.”
“No—certainly not.”
“Nor betrothed?”
“Nor betrothed.”
“Is it possible that no Gy has proposed to you?”
“In my country the Gy does not propose; the An speaks first.”
“What a strange reversal of the laws of nature!” said the maiden, “and what want of modesty in your sex! But have you never proposed, never loved one Gy more than another?”
I felt embarrassed by these ingenious questionings, and said, “Pardon me, but I think we are beginning to infringe upon Aph-Lin’s injunction. This much only will I answer, and then, I implore you, ask no more. I did once feel the preference you speak of; I did propose, and the Gy would willingly have accepted me, but her parents refused their consent.”
“Parents! Do you mean seriously to tell me that parents can interfere with the choice of their daughters?”
“Indeed they can, and do very often.”