"And buying a house and furniture, and all the rest of it."
"Precisely; and all the rest of it."
"And you told me that you had bought a ring."
"That's a fact. I did. I paid twenty pounds for an engagement-ring. It's in my pocket now. That's one of the pleasantest parts of the affair."
"Then what the dickens does she mean? Is the girl stark mad? Are you sure the letter comes from her?"
"You shall examine it for yourself in a moment, and then you'll be able to decide. You understand it is the first love-letter I ever had, and therefore sacred above the rest. As for what she means, the explanation comes a little further on--in the next sentence, in fact, Perhaps you will allow me to proceed!"
"Oh, go on! It is plain the girl is mad."
"'The fact is, I am going to marry Mr. Summers instead.'"
"Good----! What--what's that?"
"She says that she's going to marry Mr. Summers instead."