What is it ?" Rose began playing with her cord and tassels.
"What is it ?" reiterated the Canadian.

"Yes or No ?" "Yes!" M.La Touche's anxious countenance turned rapturous, but Miss Grace Danton was coming down stairs, and he had to be discreet.

Grace lingered a few moments talking of the weather, and Rose took the opportunity of making her escape.
After breakfast, when the family were dispersing, M.La Touche followed Captain Danton out of the room, and begged the favour of a private interview.

The Captain looked surprised, but agreed readily, and led the way to his study, no shadow of the truth dawning on his mind.
That awful ordeal of most successful wooers, "speaking to papa," was very hard to begin; but M.La Touche, encouraged by the recollection of the forty thousand pounds, managed to begin somehow.

He made his proposal with a modest diffidence that could not fail to please.
"We have loved each other this long time," said the young man; "but I never dreamed of speaking to you so soon.