“Of course not. It's wonderful that you've made your way alone and won the fight of life.”
He gripped her hands and held her at arms' length, devouring her with his deep, slumbering eyes.
“Gee, but you're a brick, little girl! I thought you were an angel when I first saw you. Now I know it. Just watch me work for you! I'll show you a thing or two. You'll marry me right away, won't you?”
He bent close, his breath on her lips.
Her eyes drooped under his passionate gaze, and the tears slowly stole down her cheeks. Her hour of life had struck! So suddenly, so utterly unexpectedly, it rang a thunderbolt from the clear sky.
“You will, won't you?” he pleaded.
She smiled at him through her tears and slowly said:
“I can't say yes today.”
“Why—why?”
“You've swept me off my feet—I—I can't think.”