The minister held the pinch of snuff, that he had meant to apply to his nose, between his fingers, and looked attentively at Aunt Ursul.
"Should he live longer, he has had me thirty years; and sometime everything must come to an end; so we are very properly called and chosen thereto."
The minister dropped the pinch of snuff. "For God's sake, Aunt Ursul, what are you driving at?"
"I took you to be more courageous," said Aunt Ursul.
"And I you to be more rational," said the minister.
"About such things one must ask his own heart," said Aunt Ursul.
"And the heart is a timorous, perverse thing," replied the minister.
"Yes, very timid," said Aunt Ursul, scornfully.
"Yes; truly perverse," said the minister guardedly.
"Now, without further parley, will you be my man, or not?" said Aunt Ursul who had lost patience.