I shall therefore hold you as engaged to me, and myself as engaged to you,--unless something should occur to separate us.' It was a foolish thing to say, but he did not know how to speak without being foolish.

It is not usual that a gentleman should ask a lady to be engaged to him '-- unless something should occur to separate them!' 'You will consent to that,' he said.
'What I will consent to is this, that I will be yours, all yours, whenever you may choose to send for me.

At any moment I will be your wife for the asking.

But you shall go away first, and shall think of it, and reflect upon it,--so that I may not have to reproach myself with having caught you.' 'Caught me ?' 'Well, yes, caught you.

I do feel that I have caught you,--almost.