“I don’t think it has harmed him. I hope it has not. Winkfield, he desired me to send you to him: I’ll let myself out of the house. Goodnight!”
“Good-night, sir, and thank you!”
As the door into the bedchamber closed behind the valet, Nell moved towards John, the half-train of her gown hushing on the floor. He opened his arms to her, and she walked into them, as though she found it natural to be there. “Oh, I was so angry, so very angry!” she murmured.
He put his hand on her head, smoothing the thick locks. “I know you were! Such a look as you cast at me! I thought myself betrothed to a cockatrice!”
“Oh, no!” she protested. “How infamous of you to say so! I was startled—in a flash, I knew that you would not have come if you had not been summoned. Winkfield told me how it was. How sly of Grandpapa! He breathed not a word to me. I was never more embarrassed in my life, for he was watching us so closely. Oh, and you were so good! You talked to him just as you ought. I know he liked you!” She looked up into his face. “What did he say to you, when I had gone away?”
“He gave me permission to pay my addresses to you, my heart, so now I will ask you, most formally, if you will do me the honour of accepting my hand in marriage, ma’am?”
“How absurd you are! What should I say? You must know that I have no experience in these matters, and I should not wish to answer with the least impropriety!”
“You should say, Yes, sir, I will!”
“I am sure I ought to display a little confusion, put on an air of surprise, perhaps trifle with you for a while!”
“Thank God you have no such missish ways! And I must remind you, ma’am, that we met each other earlier in the day!”