The evening times., 1898-03-18
A PROPOSAL OF TODAY.

handkerchief with an opposition pat
tern in colored wools-why, Mr.. Mark
ham could not make out There was
no one esle in the room, and. as was
evident, the gentleman was disposed to
be confidential
Miss GreatoreX smiled.
And why have you not?'
Il have at times been half afraid that
you might accept" replied the candid
young man. AT Others" he added
(thoughtfully removing an almost in
visible dust speck from his sleeve).
1 have been much perturbed by the
possibility-oh. certainly the possibility
that you might refuse"
1T would be disagreeable to be re-
fused" remarked the lady, imperson-
ally.
That" the gentleman considered,
depends. If / were sure / wanted to
marry you. it would unquestionably be
disa agreeable to be refused.
And you are not sure?'
NO: very far. indeed, from being so.
At times l think 1 should much enjoy
the role of Mr. Greatorex, so to speak.
But not always"
"Oh. dear, noi-not nearly always"
Miss Greatorex had a canary, which
at this juncture began to sing with an
ment. Mr.. Markham went to neigh
boring drawer and produced thence
cloth, with which he covered the cage.
You are not sure whether you are in
love with me or nO?' remarked the
young lady as the birds indignant si-
lence succeeded to his previous irrele-
want rhapsody.
Mr. Markham came back to the man.
telpiece. and having readjusted his
back. he said in a low voice, and look
ing down at the very adjacent brown,
bent head:
Il admit that / am disappointed"
She looked up rather quickly
Bitterly. l had no idea that you
could be stupid-it is evidently posi-
BILE
From the motion of Miss Greatorex
her head-as they would say in the old
books-he implied a note of interroga-
tion.
1t is stupid not to have grasped the
question. 1 have for quite long time
known that | was in love with you"
Ever since luncheon"
Perhaps not quite so long as that.
But certainly ever since, almost ever
since Lady GreatoreX left the room.
The young lady laughed
Was my mother such an instance or
George Eliots malign prophet standing
behind her daughter and threatening
what she will be-
Il merely meant that the presence of
q chaperone is incompatible with senti-
ment."
Il" observed the young woman. do
not mind admitting that | am getting
confused. You now assert that for
more than twenty minutes you have
adored me" (Mr Markham's shoulders
appeared to deprecate the exaggeration
of this rhetoric). and a moment ago
you seemed much to doubt your love-
Not at all. That is why / lately call
ed you stupid. / am sure that L am in
love: but i am very uncertain as TO
whether / would like TO marry the be-
loved object
Miss GreatoreX laughed.
Il admit it sounds, perhaps, improper.
] merely mean that marriage as the
necessary denouement Of being what is
called in love seems to me quite
doubtful expedient."
When there is no question of being
in love" he continued, relaxing him.
self by a short walk to the other end
Of the room and back, Il think mar
riage not a bad arrangement. 1t is
then merely a form of business part
nership, and now that it has ceased to
be insoluble has no special terrors. But
you and ! have nothing TO gain by
that / am exceedingly well off; so are
you. j do not need to marry for posi-
tion. nor do you. We neither of US need
to demand blood like Hamlet's aunt.
In fine, as they say in the Arabian
Nights you have nothing to gain by
me. and ] have no material need of
anything you can supply to me. Mark
ham is just as fine a place as Create
rex Abbey, and not a bit finer. When I
speak of being in love. it is purely
personal sensation; should like it to
become chronic 1 really enjoy being in
love. But if We got married.
You cannot anticipate your love
standing that crucial test p"
Il honestly admit that / have my
doubts. We live in a straightforward
age: let me make a clean breast of
them. Do you. for instance, like to talk
at breakfast
Not always"
Il never If YOU were licensed by the |
ceremony Of marriage to inundate me |
with matutinal conversation, / should |
be rendered at once miserable. \ feel !
ing OF decency would prevent my show
ing it: ! should suppress it, That sup |
preston would at once destroy all |
openness between u.s.
You take. / think" interrupted |
Miss Greatorex, "a morbid view OF the |
duty Of conjugal confidence. You would |
push il too far"
My views are always high. Perhaps |
| do; but that is how it strikes me. |
Every morning l should join you at the |
breakfast table with the unspoken ter |
ror that you were about to converse. |
| think it possible that you also like to |
talk in the train and in cabs?'
Miss GreatoreX asserted that such l
A. NJ Y-l-l..a
down on a chair at some little dis |
tance.
Exactly. And to talk in the train |
only makes me less passionately angry |
han having to speak to anybody, above
all to answer their questions. In a cab.
''Of course" remarked the young |
lady, wishing to allay the anxiety of
her friend. you viii recollect that the /
present discussion is purely academical. |
have never definitely asked you to be
ny husband"
NO" he admitted. very handsomely
I remember that. i have admired you
or not pushing your advantage. Any
law within the last week you might
lave suggested it, and heaven alone
Knows whether / could have refused. |
I is very improbable that / should
ave been sufficiently firm"
You almost tempt me to try"
Mr. Markham raised his hand.
Wait" he cried. do let us finish
his most interesting conversation.
What / would wish to express is this,
hat marriage when one is really in |
owe seems to me to rulgarize the sit
iation. 1t makes, to use the familiar
expression, a business of a pleasure.
Dr. more accurately, to make into a
-ulgar business matter what should be |
guarded from any taint of