"Because I am not amused."
"That is very rude of you! And you are generally such a prettily behaved person. You don't seem to be listening to me, either."
"I'm not," said Paul, "I'm thinking about something else."
"Fie, fie, Master Seaton! whatever will your mamma say when you get home?" cried Isabel, shaking her finger at him.
"When you have quite finished I should like to have my innings," said Paul grimly, "but I don't in the least wish to hurry you."
"You are the most unappreciative man I ever talked to!"
"Look here, Miss Carnaby, it isn't fair to treat a fellow like this. Will you listen to me or will you not? because if you won't I'm going away."
Isabel looked to see if he were in earnest; when Paul was in earnest she knew by experience other people had to be in earnest too.
"All right," she sighed. "Say your say."
Paul's face grew very white. "I never made love to a woman before, and I never shall again, so I am a poor hand at the business. But you know how I love you; and I want to know if you will be my wife."