And with that I shut my eyes and let fly at it, though every knock brought my heart into my mouth.

Now guess: who d'ye think answered the door?
Why, that ghastly boy of hers! There he stood, all freckles and pimples; and says he, grinning:" 'Mr.Benjamin Jope Moderately well, I hope.' "I couldn't stand it.

I turned tail and ran for my life." "But was that quite honourable ?" I asked.
"Ain't I tellin' you to wait till I've done?
You don't suppose as it ended there, do you?
No; I passed my word to that sister of mine, and my word I must keep.

So I went back to Symonds's--who was that pleased to see me again you'd have thought I'd been half round the world--and I ordered up three-pennorth of rum, and pens and ink to the same amount: and this is what I wrote, and I hope you'll get it by heart before you're in a hurry again to accuse Ben Jope of dishonourable conduct--'_Respected Madam_,' I wrote, '_this is to enquire if you'll marry me.

Better late than never, and please don't trouble to reply.