Sez he, “Miss Smith, of course you hain’t known me long, but I feel that we are well acquainted. I have watched you when you hain’t known it.”
I could imagine just how wonderingly the soft gentle eyes wuz raised to his as he went on:
“Yes, I have kep’ my eye on you, and I will say right out that I like your looks and your ways, and I feel that you are worthy of being promoted to the high honor I am about to heap onto you, by askin’ you to be my wife.”
I heard a little low, skairt ejaculation and a chair pushed back. 150
“Your wife! oh no, no, you are mistaken!”
Then his voice in soothin’ axents, “There, set down agin, set down. I knew you’d take it so. I knew it would overcome you, but I say you are worthy on’t, and you needn’t never be afraid I’ll throw it in your face that I am rich and you—and you––”
Then I hearn a swish of a dress float along, quick steps acrost the piazza, a door shet, and anon Mr. Pomper come back to me.
“Jest as I told you, mom, stunted,” sez he, “fairly stunted and broke down by the suddenness of the good news. I’ll give her time to git used to the idee. I won’t say no more at present.”
“No,” sez I dryly, “I wouldn’t if I wuz in your place, I’d go and rub some ile into my head or sweat it, or sunthin’.”
“What for?” sez he in surprise, “why should I bathe my head, or annoint it?”