"And so he came there?—Sit down, sit down; here, near me. Well, and then he came?"
"Yes; but he didn't say much, for he was so bashful."
"Tell me what he said, every word; pray, every word!"
"'Are you afraid of me?' he said. 'Why should I be afraid?' I answered. 'You know what I want to say to you,' he said, sitting down beside me on the chest."
"Beside you!"
"And he took me round my waist."
"Round your waist; nonsense!"
"I wished very much to get loose again; but he wouldn't let me. 'Dear Eli,' he said——" She laughed, and the other one laughed, too.
"Well? well?"
"'Will you be my wife?' Ha, ha, ha!"