Now it happened that she and Gilray were left alone in the house-boat.

It was evening; some Chinese lanterns had been lighted, and Gilray, though you would not think it to look at him, is romantic.

He cast his line, and, turning to his companion, asked her the question.

From what he has told me he asked it very properly, and all seemed to be going well.

She turned away her head (which is said not to be a bad sign) and had begun to reply, when a woful thing happened.