As it is we're very good friends; and if I asked her to marry me, I might spoil that." The Terror considered the point for a minute or two; then he said: "I don't think you would.

Mum's very sensible, though she is so pretty." Sir James frowned deeply in his utter perplexity; then he said: "I'll risk it!" He rang the bell and ordered his car.

He talked to the Terror jerkily and somewhat incoherently till it came; and the Terror observed his perturbation with considerable interest.

It seemed to him very curious in a hard-bitten hunter of big game.

They started and in the two level miles to Little Deeping Sir James changed his car's speeds nine times.
As they came very slowly up to Colet House, the Terror said with an air of detachment: "I should think, you know, Mum could be rushed." He had definitely made up his mind that it would be a good thing for her.
"If I only could!" said Sir James in a tone of feverish doubt.
Mrs.Dangerfield was mending a rent in a frock of Erebus when he entered the drawing-room; and at the first glance she knew, with a thrill half of pleasure, half of apprehension, why he had come.
At the sight of her Sir James felt his tremulous courage oozing out of him; but with what was left of it he blurted out desperately: "Look here, Anne, dear, I want you to marry me!" "Oh!" said Mrs.Dangerfield, rising quickly.
"Yes, I want it more than ever I wanted anything in my life!" Mrs.Dangerfield's face was one flush; and she cried: "B-b-but it's out of the question.