"But that's a promise. No. Let's just go on as we are now, being friends and meeting sometimes!"
"Supposing we were engaged without anybody knowing about it?" he said. "Would that do?"
"I don't want either of us to be bound ... not yet. Oh, not yet. Do be sensible, John!"
"I am sensible. I know that I want to marry you. That's sensible, isn't it?"
"Yes, I suppose it is," she replied, laughing.
"Well, isn't it sensible to want to be sensible as soon as possible? You needn't laugh. I mean it. It's just foolishness to be going on like this. I'm as sensible as anybody, and I can't see any sense in our not marrying at once. Get engaged to me for a while anyway!"
"But what would be the good of that?"
"All the good in the world. I just want the comfort of knowing there's a chance of you marrying me!"
"It seems so unsatisfactory to me ... and so risky!" she protested.
"I'm willing to take the risk. I'll wait as long as you like."