Better and better! His arm was long enough, in the new position, to reach her waist.

Her waist was ready for him.
"You have nothing in particular to do, this afternoon; and I have nothing particular to do." He delivered himself of this assertion rather abruptly.

At the same time, it was one of those promising statements which pave the way for anything.

He might say, "Having nothing particular to do to-day--why shouldn't we make love ?" Or he might say, "Having nothing particular to do to-morrow--why shouldn't we get the marriage license ?" Would he put it in that way?
No: he made a proposal of quite another kind.

He said, "You seem to be fond of stories.