Part 15 (1/2)
”I try to be.”
”Of course; and look yonder, there's old Pradelle, the dearest and best friend a fellow ever had, talking to Louie as I'm talking to you.”
”Yes, I'm afraid he is.”
”Afraid? Oh, come now, don't be prejudiced. I want you to like Victor.”
”That would be impossible.”
”Impossible! What, the man who will most likely be Louie's husband?”
”Mr Pradelle will never be Louie's husband.”
”What! Why, how do you know?”
”Because I know your sister's heart too well.”
”And you don't like Pradelle?”
”No, Harry; and I'm sorry you ever chose him for a companion.”
”Oh, come, dear, that's prejudice and a bit of jealousy. Well, never mind about that now. I want to talk about ourselves.”
”Yes, Harry.”
”I want you to promise to be my little wife. I'm four-and-twenty, and you are nearly twenty, so it's quite time to talk about it.”
Madelaine shook her head.
”Oh, come!” he said merrily, ”no girl's coyness: we are too old friends for that, and understand one another too well. Come, dear, when is it to be?”
She turned and looked in the handsome flushed face beside her, and then said in the most cool and matter-of-fact way:
”It is too soon to talk like that, Harry.”
”Too soon? Not a bit of it. You have told me that you will be my wife.”
”Some day, perhaps.”
”Oh, nonsense, dear! I've been thinking this all over well. You see, Maddy, you've let my not sticking to business trouble you.”
”Yes, Harry, very much.”
”Well, I'm very sorry, clear; and I suppose I have been a bit to blame, but I've been doing distasteful work, and I've been like a boat swinging about without an anchor. I want you to be my anchor to hold me fast.
I've wanted something to steady me--something to work for; and if I've got you for a wife I shall be a different man directly.”
Madelaine sighed.
”Aunt Marguerite won't like it, because she is not very fond of you.”