Why should he undergo this, he, Crosbie of Sebright's, Crosbie of the General Committee Office, Crosbie who would allow no one to bore him between Charing Cross and the far end of Bayswater,--why should he listen to the long-winded stories of such a one as Squire Dale?
If, indeed, the squire intended to be liberal to his niece, then it might be very well.

But as yet the squire had given no sign of such intention, and Crosbie was angry with himself in that he had not had the courage to ask a question on that subject.
And thus the course of love was not all smooth to our Apollo.

It was still pleasant for him when he was there on the croquet ground, or sitting in Mrs Dale's drawing-room with all the privileges of an accepted lover.

It was pleasant to him also as he sipped the squire's claret, knowing that his coffee would soon be handed to him by a sweet girl who would have tripped across the two gardens on purpose to perform for him this service.

There is nothing pleasanter than all this, although a man when so treated does feel himself to look like a calf at the altar, ready for the knife, with blue ribbons round his horns and neck.