Craven recovered his voice, and encouraged by the favorable manner
in which she appeared to listen to him, actually threw himself at
her feet and, seizing one of her hands, with much ardor and
earnestness and much more eloquence than any one would have credited
him with, poured forth the history of his passion and his hopes.
"Well, I declare!" said Cap, when he had finished his speech and was
waiting in breathless impatience for her answer; "this is what is
called a declaration of love and a proposal of marriage, is it? It
is downright sentimental, I suppose, if I had only sense enough to
appreciate it! It is as good as a play; pity it is lost upon me!"
"Cruel girl! how you mock me!" cried Craven, rising from his knees
and sitting beside her.
"No, I don't; I'm in solemn earnest. I say it is first rate. Do it
again; I like it!"
"Sarcastic and merciless one, you glory in the pain you give! But if
you wish again to hear me say I love you, I will say it a dozen--
yes, a hundred--times over if you will only admit that you could
love me a little in return."
"Don't; that would be tiresome; two or three times is quite enough.
Besides, what earthly good could my saying 'I love you' do?"
"It might persuade you to become the wife of one who will adore you
to the last hour of his life."
"Meaning you?"
"Meaning me; the most devoted of your admirers.
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