“‘Oh dear!’ said she, ‘to think I should have lived to hear such a horrid word, in this abode of learning!’
“‘But,’ I went on without stopping, ‘like a bull in a chiny-shop, I see I have got into the wrong pew; so nothin’ remains for me but to beg pardon, keep my proposal for where it will be civilly received, at least, and back out.’
“She was as puzzled as the maid. But women ain’t throwed off their guard easily. If they are in a dark place, they can feel their way out, if they can’t see it. So says she, dubious like:
“‘About a child, I suppose?’
“‘It is customary in Europe,’ sais I, ‘I believe, to talk about the marriage first, isn’t it? but I have been so much abroad, I am not certified as to usages here.’
“Oh, warn’t she brought to a hack! She had a great mind to order me out, but then that word ‘proposal’ was one she had only seen in a dictionary—she had never heard it; and it is such a pretty one, and sounded so nice to the ear; and then that word ‘marriage’ was used also, so it carried the day.
“‘This is not a place, Mr Slick, for foundlings, I’de have you to know,’ she said, with an air of disgust, ‘but children whose parents are of the first class of society. If,’ and she paused and looked at me scrutinisin’, ‘if your proposals are of that nature, walk in here, Sir, if you please, where our conversation will not be over-heard. Pray be seated. May I ask, what is the nature of the proposition with which you design to honour me?’ and she gave me a smile that would pass for one of graciousness and sweet temper, or of encouragement. It hadn’t a decided character, and was a non-committal one. She was doin’ quite the lady, but I consaited her ear was itching to hear what I had to say, for she put a finger up, with a beautiful diamond ring on it, and brushed a fly off with it; but, after all, perhaps it was only to show her lily-white hand, which merely wanted a run at grass on the after-feed to fatten it up, and make it look quite beautiful.
“‘Certainly,’ sais I, ‘you may ask any question of the kind you like.’
“It took her aback, for she requested leave to ask, and I granted it; but she meant it different.
“Thinks I, ‘My pretty grammarian, there is a little grain of difference between, ‘May I ask,’ and, ‘I must ask.’ Try it again.’