The earl winced; but whether at her words or her action, who could say?
“Am I so old, so very old, then, Rosemary?” he gravely inquired.
“Oh, no, no; I did not mean that! Of course, I didn’t mean that you are as old as Mr. Force, who is forty-five; but I meant—I meant—I meant—you are so very much grown up, to be so kind as to walk and talk with a girl like me as much as you do.”
“Well, my dear, do you not like to have me walk and talk with you?”
“Oh, yes! indeed, indeed I do! Oh, you know I do!” she answered, fervently.
Again the earl was silent for a few moments, and then, drawing her small hand into the bend of his arm, he asked:
“Rosemary, would you like that you and I should walk and talk together every day for the rest of our lives?”
She turned and looked up into his face, as if she wished to read his meaning.
He smiled into her upraised eyes.
“Are you in earnest?” she inquired.