Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 1.djvu/303

Rh room, humming snatches of tunes, and nibbling the end of his cane.

"My dear young lady," said he, bowing and smirking with great complacency. "I have your kind guardian's permission—"

"I know, sir," said I, wishing to shorten the scene as much as possible, "and I am greatly obliged for your preference, but must beg to decline the honour you wish to confer; for, I think, we were not made for each other—as you yourself would shortly discover if the experiment were tried."

My aunt was right: it was quite evident he had had little doubt of my acceptance, and no idea of a positive denial. He was amazed—astounded at such an answer, but too incredulous to be much offended; and after a little humming and hawing, he returned to the attack.

"I know, my dear, that there exists a considerable disparity between us in years, in temperament, and perhaps some other things,