“I hope you have quite forgiven me, my dear Mrs. Calverley?” he said. “I can scarcely account for my folly, but I can assure you I am now quite sensible of it, and will never again offend in the like manner. Indeed, I will put it out of my power to do so, by binding myself indissolubly to you.”
“Do you mean this as an offer?” she said.
“Certainly,” he replied. “What else can it mean?”
“Then I must have a little time for consideration. I cannot make up my mind in a moment on such an important point.”
The captain's ardour was very much damped. He had flattered himself he should be at once accepted. “But you don't reject me?” he said, anxiously.
“No! you must remain on trial for a month. If I am quite satisfied with your conduct during that interval, I may become yours.”
“Then it is not to be an engagement?” he cried. “Yes; I am quite willing it should be an engagement—but not binding on either party.”
“Such an arrangement amounts to nothing,” he said. “If you love me well enough to give me your hand, accept me now, and let the marriage be fixed for some early day.”
“I cannot agree to that,” she replied. “We shall have to come to an understanding on many points.”
“We are sure to do that,” he replied. “I agree to all beforehand. You shall have your own way entirely. I shall be a very good-natured husband.”