"I must consider how I'd feel after the fatal cards were out." "Yes, you were quite eager for me to marry him," persisted she.

She was watching his face out of the corner of her eye.
"I admit it," said he huskily.

"But we've both changed since then." "Changed ?" said she, perhaps a shade too encouragingly.
He felt the hook tickling his gills and darted off warily.

"Changed toward him, I mean.

Changed in our estimate of his availability as a husband for you." He rose; the situation was becoming highly perilous.
"I must speak to your mother and fly.