"But there are occasions on which chivalry should give place to even higher things."
He certainly wished she would look down again. Her countenance was perfectly grave, but he had a horrid suspicion that there was laughter in her eyes. She murmured something to herself.
"What was that you said?" he asked, with a sudden departure from his air of ceremonious state.
"Nothing."
She looked down--and smiled. Mr. Ely felt that he was growing warm. He was not a man easily put out of countenance as a rule, but this young lady had an effect upon him which was quite unprecedented. He changed his method of attack, and from excessive deliberation passed to excessive haste.
"Miss Truscott, I am a plain business man."
"You are."
"The day before yesterday I asked you to be my wife."
"You did."
"You said you would."