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 as soon as I saw it in a man's eye that he was going to propose, I lost interest in him right away. Yet illogically I am bound to confess that I was a bit upset by the fact that I had only had two proposals that year—and the month was September. How like a woman, Bob would say. But I had better admit the truth right here and say that it was just the one man I thought I should like to have propose to me who hadn't shown any intention of actually doing it so far. Whether I was really in love with him at this time or not, it beats me to say. Love is a funny elusive sort of thing that I hadn't had much truck with hitherto. Fact was, doubtless, I only felt a bit piqued because he hadn't done what all the others had.

'What!' said Bob, planting himself in front of me in his abrupt way, 'haven't you made up your mind yet?'

'No,' I said hesitatingly, with a horrible feeling that Bob was reading the innermost recesses of my mind, and knew what was there better than I did myself. Bob chuckled.

'Ah,' he said, 'I suppose now it comes to the point you're sorry to leave———' 'Lord Hendley,' announced the footman, throwing open the door.

I am afraid I was weak enough to give a start of surprise. Bob deliberately winked at me, while his face was screwed into an expression of intense amusement. What about I am sure I don't know. But then Bob is only nineteen. One is so easily amused at the age of nineteen.