Then he yawned.

And then he slowly ejaculated, "By Jove!" "Well," said Dacres, thoughtfully, "there is something in what you say; and, to tell the truth, I think there's not a bad chance for me, so far as the lady herself is concerned; but the difficulty is not in that quarter." "Not in that quarter! Why, where the mischief else could there be any difficulty, man ?" Dacres was silent.
"You're eager enough ?" Dacres nodded his head sadly.
"Eager! why, eager isn't the word.

You're mad, man--mad as a March hare! So go in and win." Dacres said nothing.
"You're rich, not over old, handsome, well born, well bred, and have saved the lady's life by extricating her from the crater of a volcano.
She seems too young and childlike to have had any other affairs.

She's probably just out of school; not been into society; not come out; just the girl.

Confound these girls, I say, that have gone through engagements with other fellows!" "Oh, as to that," said Dacres, "this little thing is just like a child, and in her very simplicity does not know what love is.
Engagement! By Jove, I don't believe she knows the meaning of the word! She's perfectly fresh, artless, simple, and guileless.