Page:Comin' Thro' the Rye (1898).djvu/112

104 "Highly improbable! But you have not answered my question yet."

"Papa could not send me to bed if I were married, could he? or set me chapters in the Bible, or box my ears?"

"Certainly not."

"And you would always live at Silverbridge, close to the Manor House, so that I could run in and out every day?"

"If you liked."

"Then," I say, stretching out my hand, "if you are quite sure that you will always be polite to Jack, and never call me names, or make a row about the housekeeping bills, or keep the key of the kitchen-garden! I will marry you' Not for years and years though, when I am twenty or so."

"That would be much too old to be married," says George. "It would be a pity not to come to The Chace while you are young and able to enjoy the fruit. Eighteen is the proper age!"

"Too soon," I say, shaking my head, "let us say eighteen and a half; but, of course, if I see any one I like better, you won't mind my having him?"

"Not mind?" he says blankly; "but I shall mind very much indeed! However, I'll take care that you never have the chance!"

You need not be afraid," I say, consolingly; no living man is ever seen in Silverbridge who is not married, or old, or a fright! Besides, who would be likely to fall in love with me?"

"Everybody!" he says warmly, "they couldn't help it!"

"I think," I say, disregarding this pretty compliment (of course he does not expect me to notice it, he only does it to please me!), "that it would be safer to promise conditionally. Most likely you will see some one or other who would just suit you, and then you might feel uncomfortable about me; and though it is very unlikely that any one else will ever want to marry me, for at home we see nobody, it is just possible that I might run up against