'What? Who's been putting that into your head? Your grumpy granny, I suppose.However, how is she? Margery, I have been thinking to-day--in fact, I was thinking it yesterday and all the week--that really we might settle our little business this summer.'
'This summer?' she repeated, with some dismay.'But the partnership?
Remember it was not to be till after that was completed.'
'There I have you!' said he, taking the liberty to pat her shoulder, and the further liberty of advancing his hand behind it to the other.
'The partnership is settled.'Tis "Vine and Hayward, lime-burners,"now, and "Richard Vine" no longer.Yes, Cousin Richard has settled it so, for a time at least, and 'tis to be painted on the carts this week--blue letters--yaller ground.I'll boss one of 'em, and drive en round to your door as soon as the paint is dry, to show 'ee how it looks?'
'Oh, I am sure you needn't take that trouble, Jim; I can see it quite well enough in my mind,' replied the young girl--not without a flitting accent of superiority.
'Hullo,' said Jim, taking her by the shoulders, and looking at her hard.'What dew that bit of incivility mean? Now, Margery, let's sit down here, and have this cleared.' He rapped with his stick upon the rail of a little bridge they were crossing, and seated himself firmly, leaving a place for her.
'But I want to get home-along,' dear Jim, she coaxed.
'Fidgets.Sit down, there's a dear.I want a straightforward answer, if you please.In what month, and on what day of the month, will you marry me?'
'O, Jim,' she said, sitting gingerly on the edge, 'that's too plain-spoken for you yet.Before I look at it in that business light Ishould have to--to--'
'But your father has settled it long ago, and you said it should be as soon as I became a partner.So, dear, you must not mind a plain man wanting a plain answer.Come, name your time.'
She did not reply at once.What thoughts were passing through her brain during the interval? Not images raised by his words, but whirling figures of men and women in red and white and blue, reflected from a glassy floor, in movements timed by the thrilling beats of the Drum Polka.At last she said slowly, 'Jim, you don't know the world, and what a woman's wants can be.'
'But I can make you comfortable.I am in lodgings as yet, but I can have a house for the asking; and as to furniture, you shall choose of the best for yourself--the very best.'
'The best! Far are you from knowing what that is!' said the little woman.'There be ornaments such as you never dream of; work-tables that would set you in amaze; silver candlesticks, tea and coffee pots that would dazzle your eyes; tea-cups, and saucers, gilded all over with guinea-gold; heavy velvet curtains, gold clocks, pictures, and looking-glasses beyond your very dreams.So don't say I shall have the best.'
'H'm!' said Jim gloomily; and fell into reflection.'Where did you get those high notions from, Margery?' he presently inquired.'I'll swear you hadn't got 'em a week ago.' She did not answer, and he added, 'YEW don't expect to have such things, I hope; deserve them as you may?'
'I was not exactly speaking of what I wanted,' she said severely.'Isaid, things a woman COULD want.And since you wish to know what ICAN want to quite satisfy me, I assure you I can want those!'
'You are a pink-and-white conundrum, Margery,' he said; 'and I give you up for to-night.Anybody would think the devil had showed you all the kingdoms of the world since I saw you last!'
She reddened.'Perhaps he has!' she murmured; then arose, he following her; and they soon reached Margery's home, approaching it from the lower or meadow side--the opposite to that of the garden top, where she had met the Baron.
'You'll come in, won't you, Jim?' she said, with more ceremony than heartiness.
'No--I think not to-night,' he answered.'I'll consider what you've said.'
'You are very good, Jim,' she returned lightly.'Good-bye.'
