er. "That's another proposal from Mr.
Spooner," Lady Chiltern said, as soon as they were alone.

"Exactly that."

"I knew he'd go on with it. Men are such fools."

"I don't see that he's a fool at all;" said Lord Chiltern, almost in
anger. "Why shouldn't he ask a girl to be his wife? He's a rich man,
and she hasn't got a farthing."

"You might say the same of a butcher, Oswald."

"Mr. Spooner is a gentleman."

"You do not mean to say that he's fit to marry such a girl as
Adelaide Palliser?"

"I don't know what makes fitness. He's got a red nose, and if she
don't like a red nose,--that's unfitness. Gerard Maule's nose isn't
red, and I dare say therefore he's fitter. Only, unfortunately, he
has no money."

"Adelaide Palliser would no more think of marrying Mr. Spooner than
you would have thought of marrying the cook."

"If I had liked the cook I should have asked her, and I don't see why
Mr. Spooner shouldn't ask Miss Palliser. She needn't take him."

In the meantime Miss Palliser was reading the following letter:--

Spoon Hall, 11th March, 18--.

MY DEAR LORD CHILTERN,--

I venture to suppose that at present you are acting as the
guardian of Miss Palliser, who has been staying at your
house all the winter. If I am wrong in this I hope you
will pardon me, and consent to act in that capacity for
this occasion. I entertain feelings of the greatest
admiration and warmest affection for the young lady I have
named, which I ventured to express when I had the pleasure
of staying at Harrington Hall in the early part of last
month. I cannot boast that I was received on that occasion
with much favour; but I know that I am not very good at
talking, and we are told in all the books that no man has
a right to expect to be taken at the first time of asking.
Perhaps Miss Palliser will allow me, through you, to
request her to consider my proposal with more deliberation
than was allowed to me before, when I spoke to her perhaps
with injudicious hurry.

So far the Squire adopted his cousin's words without alteration.

I am the owner of my own property,--which is more than
everybody can say. My income is nearly L4,000 a year. I
shall be willing to make any proper settlement that may
be recommended by the lawyers,--though I am strongly of
opinion that an estate shouldn't be crippled for the
sake of the widow. As to refurnishing the old house,