Still there was the evident fact of his attentions, which were too frequent to be overlooked.
Hawbury rapidly became the most prominent subject of Minnie's conversation.

She used to prattle away for hours about him.

She alluded admiringly to his long whiskers.

She thought them "lovely." She said that he was "awfully nice." She told Mrs.Willoughby that "he was nicer than any of them; and then, Kitty darling," she added, "it's so awfully good of him not to be coming and saving my life, and carrying me on his back down a mountain, like an ogre, and then pretending that he's my father, you know.
"For you know, Kitty pet, I've always longed so awfully to see some really nice person, you know, who wouldn't go and save my life and bother me.

Now he doesn't seem a bit like proposing.