I want you to be the mouse--to set me free of this disgraceful entanglement." "How ?" asked Shirley calmly.
"Ah, that's just it--how ?" he replied.

"Can't you think--you're a woman--you have youth, beauty--brains." He stopped and eyed her closely until she reddened from the embarrassing scrutiny.

Then he blurted out: "By George! marry him yourself--force him to let go of this other woman! Why not?
Come, what do you say ?" This unexpected suggestion came upon Shirley with all the force of a violent shock.

She immediately saw the falseness of her position.

This man was asking for her hand for his son under the impression that she was another woman.