I didn't know how to take her, or she wouldn't have been so angry.' 'When?
Did you really ask her to marry you ?' Lady Maud was smiling now.
'Why, yes, I did.

Why shouldn't I?
I guess it wasn't very well done, though, and I was a fool to try and take her hand after she'd said no.' 'Oh, you tried to take her hand ?' 'Yes, and the next thing I knew she'd rushed out of the room and bolted the door, as if I was a dangerous lunatic and she'd just found it out.

That's what happened--just that.

It wasn't my fault if I was in earnest, I suppose.' 'And just after that you were engaged to poor Miss Bamberger,' said Lady Maud in a tone of reflection.
'Yes,' answered Mr.Van Torp slowly.

'Nothing mattered much just then, and the engagement was the business side.