"I am obliged to speak to you on a very important subject," she said, anxiously.
He bowed inquiringly.
"Can you not guess the subject to which I refer?" she continued. "Have you forgotten the peculiar provisions of your father's will, by which you will be disinherited in my favor unless you marry on or before your twenty-sixth birthday?"
"I have not forgotten," he replied, calmly.
"Then perhaps you have forgotten that the first day of August will be your birthday?"
"I have not forgotten that, either," he replied, coolly.
The handsome old lady regarded him with some irritation, and snapped out:
"Then perhaps you will condescend to explain the reason for your strange shilly-shallying? Your birthday scarcely three weeks off, and your inheritance dependent on your marriage, yet not even engaged!"
"Dear madame, there is plenty of time yet," he replied, with provoking coolness.
"You expect, then, to be married on your birthday?"