He joins in her laughter and observes: "I don't seem to want a wife so much now."
"As what?"
"As a sister."
"Well, she is here," says she, jumping up and stepping up to him; then, as if ashamed of her impetuosity, she drops down again on to the grass, blushing.
"Yes, will you be that?" he says with beaming eyes.
She pulls a little face and observes carelessly. "That's nothing much to be! Sister-in-law is in itself already as much as half a sister." Then, smilingly looking him up and down, she remarks: "I think one might put up with you as a brother."
"Five foot ten--been Uhlan of the Guard--does that suffice?"
"And you might even turn out a good playfellow."
"Do you require one?"
"Yes, very badly! It is so quiet and solemn here. There's not a soul to romp about with as I used to with my brothers at home. Sometimes I felt half inclined to collar one of the mill-hands, but dignity and respect forbade such a thing."