Your husband shall be at least a duke, with not less than forty thousand pounds a year.

That, by the way, is a part of my mission in Sundridge.
No, no, I do not bring an offer!" I said, hastily, noticing that she drew away from me in her manner, "I simply hope to pave the way to such an offer some time in the future, and want to warn you against doing anything that might forestall good fortune." I had hardly finished speaking when her manner of drawing away became so pronounced that I feared I might lose my race by going too fast, so I quickly sought to right myself by saying with marked emphasis:-- "I am not going to pry into your affairs." A telltale blush came to her cheek as she interrupted me with a touch of warmth: "I have no affairs." "I am sure you have not," I answered soothingly, "though a girl as beautiful as you are is sure to attract men, and is quite as sure to have little affairs.

But they are of no more importance than a laugh and a sigh." "Yes, yes, of course.

Of no importance--not the least," she answered, blushing exquisitely, and unconsciously telling me there was an affair.
"No, no," I continued earnestly.

"I do not want to pry.