"That's what I ask her. Her answer is that she loves me only too well. She's so afraid of being a burden to me that she gives me my freedom till I've taken another year to think."
"I like the way you talk about other years!" Mr. Carteret cried. "You had better do it while I'm here to bless you."
"She thinks I proposed to her because she got me in for Harsh," said Nick.
"Well, I'm sure it would be a very pretty return."
"Ah she doesn't believe in me," the young man repeated.
"Then I don't believe in her."
"Don't say that—don't say that. She's a very rare creature. But she's proud, shy, suspicious."
"Suspicious of what?"
"Of everything. She thinks I'm not persistent."
"Oh, oh!"—Nick's host deprecated such freedom.