“Why that would be awkward—especially as you’re sleeping under the same roof, and eating at the same table with her. The more awkward, since you say you’ve had a refusal already.”
“It wasn’t a regular offer. Besides I was too quick with it. There’s been a good deal since, that gives me hope. She’ll think better of it now—if I don’t mistake her.”
“You are not quite sure of her, then?”
“Well—not exactly.”
“Don’t you think you had better postpone your proposal, till you’re more certain of its being favourably received?”
“But there’s a way to make certain. It’s about that, I want you to advise me.”
“Let me hear your ‘way’?”
“Well; you see, captain, though the girl’s only the niece of Sir Marmaduke, she loves him quite as much as his own daughter does. I don’t think she cares about that stripling—farther than as a cousin. What’s between them is just like sister and brother: since she’s got no brother of her own. They’ve been brought up together—that’s all.”
“I can’t help admiring your perspicuity, Cornet Stubbs.”
Perspicuity was just that quality with which the cornet was not gifted; else he could hardly have failed to notice the tone of irony, in which the compliment was uttered.