"Think about her!" said the doctor; "well, Mary, what do you think
about her? I dare say we think the same."
"But that's not the question. What do you think about her? Do you
think she's honest?"
"Honest? Oh, yes, certainly--very honest, I should say."
"And good-tempered?"
"Uncommonly good-tempered."
"And affectionate?"
"Well, yes; and affectionate. I should certainly say that she is
affectionate."
"I'm sure she's clever."
"Yes, I think she's clever."
"And, and--and womanly in her feelings." Mrs. Gresham felt that she
could not quite say lady-like, though she would fain have done so had
she dared.
"Oh, certainly," said the doctor. "But, Mary, why are you dissecting
Miss Dunstable's character with so much ingenuity?"
"Well, uncle, I will tell you why; because--" and Mrs. Gresham, while
she was speaking, got up from her chair, and going round the table to
her uncle's side, put her arm round his neck till her face was close
to his, and then continued speaking as she stood behind him out of
his sight--"because--I think that Miss Dunstable is--is very fond of
you; and that it would make her happy if you would--ask her to be
your wife."
"Mary!" said the doctor, turning round with an endeavour to look his
niece in the face.
Pages:
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511