There seemed to be a tremendous amount of fuss because she happened to be a girl.
Martin spoke again before she had emerged from the thicket of inward questions.

She was only eighteen, after all.
"I mean, you can marry me if you like." he said, "and then no one can take you back." He was amazed at his courage and hideously afraid that she would laugh at him.

He had never dared to say how much he loved her.
She did laugh, but with a ring of so much pleasure and relief that the blood flew to his head.

"Why, Marty, what a brain! What organization! Of course I'll marry you.

Why ever didn't we think of that last night ?" But before he could pull himself together a man-servant entered with an air of extreme surprise.