"Do you suppose that I haven't tried to make myself think that I'm mistaken? I wouldn't believe it. But it's no use pretending any longer; it's sure. What are you going to do?"
"What am I going to do? That's--that's a nice brick to aim at a fellow without the slightest warning."
"I'm sorry; I can't help it; I must know. What are you going to do?"
"My dear girl, you know that you've no more actual knowledge on such a subject than I have. I hope--and I think it's very possible--that you are wrong. Let's, first of all, make sure."
"Very well--we'll make sure. And when we've made sure what are you going to do--if it is sure?"
"We'll discuss that when we've made sure. Give me a chance to think; you've had one. It seems that you've guessed, goodness knows how long. Give me a chance to get my thoughts into order."
"I can't wait; I must know now. What are you going to do--if it is sure?"
"I'll do everything that a man can do--you know that perfectly well. You've knocked the sense all out of me! Do give me a chance to think! Don't look at me with that stand-and-deliver air! Come here, old lady, and let me kiss those pretty eyes of yours; I can't bear to have them look like that."
"Don't touch me--don't dare! You say you'll do everything a man can do. Does that mean you'll marry me?"
"Why is it impossible? Are you married already?"
"As if there weren't a thousand reasons! As if you weren't almost as well posted in my financial position as I am myself! As if you didn't know how hard I've found it to pay my way--that, in fact, I haven't paid it! If I were to marry you, financially there'd be an end of me; and in every other way! Not only should I be worse than penniless, but there'd be absolutely no prospect of my ever being anything else."
"I shouldn't be worse off as your wife than I am now."
"Oh, wouldn't you? You would; don't you make any error! I've never said a word to you about marriage."
"That's true, nor should I have said it to you if it hadn't been for this."
"There you are--that's frank. There's been no deception on either side. After all that there's been between us don't let's have any unpleasantness, for both our sakes. I'm as sorry for the position to which we've managed to bring things as you can be; you must know I am. At present I'm stony, but shortly I hope to have the command of plenty of money."