"Why?"
"Because, sir—"
"I call you 'my own' in advance? Eh?"
"Yes, sir!"
Fanny had uttered the words without reflection—intending them as a reply to Mr. Ralph's sentence, the words "in advance," being omitted therefrom. Everybody saw her mistake at once, and a shout of laughter greeted the reply.
Ralph assumed a close and cautious expression, and said:
"Well—I will be more careful in future. The fact is, that people who are to be married, should be as chary of their endearments, in public, as those who are married."
General laughter and assent—except from Fanny, who was blushing.
"Nothing is more disagreeable," continued Ralph, philosophically, "than these public evidences of affection; it is positively shocking to see and hear two married people exchanging their 'dears' and 'dearests,' 'loves' and 'darlings'—especially to bachelors; it is really insulting! Therefore, it is equally in bad taste with those who are to be married;—logically, consequently, and in the third place—and lastly—it is not proper, between myself and you, my Fanny—hum—Miss Fanny!"
This syllogistic discourse was received by Fanny with a mixture of blushes and satirical curls of the lip. "Hum!" more than once issued from her lips; and this expression always signified with the young lady in question—"indeed!"—"really!"—"you think that's mighty fine!"—or some other phrase indicative of scorn and defiance.