“I am indeed, Miss Temple. All my friends admit that. But now that you are here—by the way, I came to see Mr. Temple. Is he at home?”
“I am expecting him every moment.”
“Oh, well, I’m disappointed; but I guess I will bear up for awhile— until he comes, you know.”
“I thought your last interview with him was not so pleasant that you would so soon seek another.”
“The fact is, Alma, we both lost our tempers a bit, and no good ever comes of that. You can’t conduct business in a heat, you know.”
“Oh, then the asking of his daughter’s hand was business—a mere business proposition, was it?”
“Well, I confess he put it that way—very strongly, too. Of course, with me there would have been pleasure mixed with it if he had—but he didn’t. See here, Alma—tell me frankly (of course he talked with you about it) what objection he has to me anyhow.”
“I suppose you consider yourself such a desirable young man that it astonishes you greatly that any person should have any possible objection to you?”
“Oh, come now, Alma; don’t hit a fellow when he’s down, you know. I don’t suppose I have more conceit than the average young man; but then, on the other hand, I am not such a fool, despite appearances, as not to know that I am considered by some people as quite an eligible individual. I am not a pauper exactly, and your father knows that. I don’t think I have many very bad qualities. I don’t get drunk; I don’t —oh, I could give quite a list of the things I don’t do.”
“You are certainly frank enough, my eligible young man. Still you must not forget that my papa is considered quite an eligible father-in-law, if it comes to that.”