'It was entirely your fault,' she laughed. 'If you hadn't been so certain I was going to accept you, I should never have refused. I couldn't resist the temptation of saying no, just to see how you took it.'
'I flatter myself I took it very well.'
'You didn't,' she answered. 'You showed an entire lack of humour. You might have known that a nice woman doesn't accept a man the first time he asks her. It was very silly of you to go to Homburg as if you didn't care. How was I to know that you meant to wait a month before asking me again?'
He looked at her for a moment calmly.
'I haven't the least intention of asking you again.'
But it required much more than this to put Julia Crowley out of countenance.
'Then why on earth did you invite me to tea?'
'May I respectfully remind you that you invited yourself?' he protested.
'That's just like a man. He will go into irrelevant details,' she answered.
'Now, don't be cross,' he smiled.
'I shall be cross if I want to,' she exclaimed, with a little stamp of her foot. 'You're not being at all nice to me.'
He looked at her thoughtfully for a moment, and his eyes twinkled.
'Do you know what I'd do if I were you?'
'No, what?'
'Well,
'What cheek!' she cried.
Their eyes met, and she smiled.
'What will you say if I do?'
'That entirely depends on how you do it.'
'I don't know how,' she murmured plaintively.
'Yes, you do,' he insisted. 'You gave me an admirable lesson. First you go on your bended knees, and then you say you're quite unworthy of me.'
'You are the most spiteful creature I've ever known,' she laughed. 'You're just the sort of man who'd beat his wife.'
'Every Saturday night regularly,' he agreed.
She hesitated, looking at him.
'Well?' he said.
'I shan't,' she answered.
'Then I shall continue to be a brother to you.'
She got up and curtsied.
'Mr. Lomas, I am a widow, twenty-nine years of age, and extremely eligible. My maid is a treasure, and my dressmaker is charming. I'm clever enough to laugh at your jokes and not so learned as to know where they come from.'
'Really you're very long winded. I said it all in four words.'
'You evidently put it too briefly, since you were refused,' she smiled.
She stretched out her hands, and he took them.
'I think I'll do it by post,' she said. 'It'll sound so much more becoming.'
'You'd better get it over now.'
'You know, I don't really want to marry you a bit. I'm only doing it to please you.'
'I admire your unselfishness.'
'You will say yes if I ask you?'
'I refuse to commit myself.'
'Obstinate beast,' she cried.
She curtsied once more, as well as she could since he was firmly holding her hands.
'Sir, I have the honour to demand your hand in marriage.'
He bowed elaborately.
'Madam, I have much pleasure in acceding to your request.'
Then he drew her towards him and put his arms around her.
'I never saw anyone make such a fuss about so insignificant a detail as marriage,' she murmured.
