unds a perilous feat to perform in a hansom cab, and it would
certainly attract an amount of attention from passing bus-drivers which
would be embarrassing.'

'You could never convince me of the sincerity of your passion unless you
did something of the kind,' she replied.

'I assure you that it is quite out of fashion. Lovers now-a-days are
much too middle-aged, and their joints are creaky. Besides it ruins the
trousers.'

'I admit your last reason is overwhelming. No nice woman should ask a
man to make his trousers baggy at the knees.'

'How could she love him if they were!' exclaimed Dick.

'But at all events there can be no excuse for your not saying that you
know you are utterly unworthy of me.'

'Wild horses wouldn't induce me to make a statement which is so remote
from the truth,' he replied coolly. 'I did it with my little hatchet.'

'And of course you must threaten to commit suicide if I don't consent.
That is only decent.'

'Women are such sticklers for routine,' he sighed. 'They have no
originality. They have a passion for commonplace, and in moments of
emotion they fly with unerring instinct into the flamboyance of
melodrama.'

'I like to hear you use long words. It makes me feel so grown up.'

'By the way, how old are you?' he asked suddenly.

'Twenty-nine,' she answered promptly.

'Nonsense. There is no such age.'

'Pardon me,' she protested gravely. 'Upper parlour maids are always
twenty-nine. But I deplore your tendency to digress.'

'Am I digressing? I'm so sorry. What were we talking about?'

Julia giggled. She did not know where the cab was going, and she
certainly did not care. She was thoroughly enjoying herself.

'You were taking advantage of my vast experience in such matters to
learn how a man proposes to an eligible widow of great personal
attractions.'

'Your advice can't be very valuable, since you always refused the
others.'

'I didn't indeed,' she replied promptly. 'I made a point of accepting
them all.'

'That at all events is encouraging.'

'Of course you may do it in your own way if you choose. But I must have
a proposal in due form.'

'My intelligence may be limited, but it seems to me that only four words
are needed.' He counted them out deliberately on his fingers.
'Will--you--marry--me?'

'That is both clear and simple.' She pressed back the thumb which he had
left untouched. 'I reply in one: no.'

He looked at her with every sign of astonishment.

'I b