She stopped and looked towards him in the dim gloom of the shadow under the bridge. But Lawrence did not speak. He looked over the side of the boat, softly slapping the black water with the blade of his scull.
"Why don't you go on?" asked Fanny, tapping the boards under her foot to attract his attention.
"I was thinking over the proper words," answered Lawrence. "How does one make a formal proposal of marriage? I never did such a thing in my life."
"An informal one would do for fun."
"I never did that, either."
"Never?"
"Never."
"Really? Swear it, as they say on the stage." Fanny laughed softly.
"Oh, by Jove, yes!" answered Lawrence, promptly. "I'll swear to that by anything you please."
"Well—you'll have to do it some day, so you'd better practise at once," suggested Fanny.