"Well, then, my dear, what were you engaged to him for?"
"Engaged! Aunt, for pity's sake, do hush! Engaged! I should like to know what a New York engagement amounts to! Engaged at the opera!—Engaged for a joke! Why, he was my bouquet-holder! The man is just an opera libretto! He was very useful in his time. But who wants him afterwards?"
"But, my dear Nina, this trifling with gentlemen's hearts!"
"I'll warrant his heart! It's neither sugar nor salt, I'll assure you. I'll tell you what, aunt, he loves good eating, good drinking, nice clothes, nice houses, and good times generally! and he wants a pretty wife as a part of a whole; and he thinks he'll take me. But he is mistaken. Calling me 'Nina,' indeed! Just let me have a chance of seeing him alone! I'll teach him to call me 'Nina'! I'll let him know how things stand!"
"But, Nina, you must confess you've given him occasion for all this."
"Well, supposing I have? I'll give him occasion for something else, then!"
"Why, my dear," said Aunt Nesbit, "he came on to know when you'll fix the day to be married!"
"Married! Oh, my gracious! Just think of the creature's talking about it! Well, it is my fault, as you say; but I'll do the best I can to mend it."
"Well, I'm really sorry for him," said Aunt Nesbit.
"You are, aunt? Why don't you take him yourself, then? You are as young and good-looking as he is."