"Come;--say a word to a fellow." Then at last she spoke--"Give me--six months to think of it." "Six months! If you'd say six weeks." "It is such a serious thing to do." "It is serious, of course.

I'm serious, I know.

I shouldn't hunt above half as often as I do now; and as for the club,--I don't suppose I should go near the place once a month.

Say six weeks, and then, if you'll let me have one kiss, I'll not trouble you till you're back from Cheltenham." Mary at once perceived that he had taken her doubt almost as a complete surrender, and had again to become obdurate.

At last she promised to give him a final answer in two months, but declared as she said so that she was afraid she could not bring herself to do as he desired.