I asked him why he did not make haste about it if his intentions with regard to you were so serious.

He said he was only waiting for the death of his uncle, who was greatly against the marriage.

'That's all very well, sir,' I replied, 'but you cannot expect the girl to wait till your uncle dies; she herself would be getting old by then.

It is not a fair thing to expect any girl to do.' Then he said he would swear fidelity to you in the mean time.

'Alas, sir!' I said, 'it is hard to believe in that; one cannot trust the men nowadays.