“You are actually serious?”
“Serious, am I––on my faith, it’s a life and death affair with me this minute!”
“And my little Evilena the cause?”
“Yes, our Evilena, who does not feel so small as you may imagine. Look at her now. Could a dozen seasons give her more confidence in her own powers than she has this minute by reason of those uniformed admirers?––to say nothing of my own case.”
“Our Evilena?” and Mrs. McVeigh raised her brows inquiringly––“then you have proposed?”
“Indeed, no! I have not had the courage until tonight; but when I see a lot of lads daft as myself over her, I just whispered in the ear of Delaven that he’d better speak quick. But I would not propose without asking your permission.”
“And if I refused it?”
“You could not be so hard-hearted as that?”
“But suppose I could––and should?”
He caught the gleam of teasing light in her eyes, and smiled back at her: