Henceforth, for some time, conversation became superfluous, if not impossible.
At length Jim came to the point. "My darling!" he implored, "say that you will marry me."
"How can I? It's so sudden; you're so--so--so very demonstrative. No, no; I won't--I can't."
"Oh, very well, Miss Ostergaard," cried Aldean, suddenly releasing her. "I'm a fool, and you're a hard-hearted coquette," and he turned his back to fold his arms and sulk.
"Lord Aldean!" said Tui, faintly. There was no reply. "Lord Aldean," she repeated. Still no reply. Finally, in desperation, "Jim!"
"Oh, Tui, Tui!" His arms were round her. "Will you--will you?"
"I will," murmured Tui, with accents well-nigh liturgical.
"Dearest!"
Then there was a great silence, and what is perhaps best expressed by typographic constellations.
* * * * * *