"But what of your maidenly reputation?" I demanded. "That hateful peddler-fellow and vile old hag will make your name a byword—O, decidedly I must marry you!"
"Because of your duty?"
"And because it will resolve all my other difficulties with regard to your education; for instance, I will send you to the best and most select young ladies' academy—"
"What sort of a thing is that, Peregrine?"
"A place where ladies are educated in all the higher branches and taught deportment and all the refinements and usages of polite society."
"O!" exclaimed Diana, and sent up a sparkling shower of water with a flirt of her white foot.
"Furthermore," I continued, wiping my cheek—for some of this water had splashed me, "furthermore, Diana, you need never fear the future any longer, because as my—my wife, you would of course lack for nothing."
"Meaning as you'd find me plenty to eat and drink, Peregrine?"
"Heavens, yes, child!" I exclaimed. "You would be a lady of some position in society."
"A lady—O!" she exclaimed, and flirted her foot again.