The man who resolved to commit himself to such a task should come forward with apparent difficulty,--with great diffidence, and even with actual difficulty.
He should keep himself almost hidden, as behind a mask, and should tell of his own ambition with doubtful, quivering voice.

And the ambages should take time.

He should approach the citadel to be taken with covered ways,--working his way slowly and painfully.

But this young man, before he had been in the house three days, said all that he had to say without the slightest quaver in his voice, and evidently expected to get an answer about the squire's daughter as quickly as he had got it about the squire's land.
"You have surprised me very much," said the old man at last, drawing his breath.
"I'm quite in earnest about it.

Clara seems to me to be the very girl to make a good wife to such a one as I am.