Still, she sang straight at him, and for him only; so it was not so bad. Presently Mr. Austin vanished, and the Misses Claughton followed. So he put his arm about Stella's waist, and that was better. She was even more disposed to be made love to after dinner than before, and somehow she seemed prettier and sweeter and more desirable to him. Under such conditions he was the kind of young man who was bound to shine. After a while--quite an agreeable while--he led the conversation on to the subject which Mr. Austin had broached in the morning. The lady lent a complacent ear. "Stella, I have a very serious question which I wish to put to you." "What is it? If you can be serious." "You will find I can when you have heard my question; I pray you incline your little pink ears unto my question. Will you marry me?" "Perhaps, some day--silly!" "When is 'some day'?" "When would you like it to be?" "This day; to-night." "Rodney, you--you really mustn't talk like that." "Why mustn't I?" "You only proposed last Saturday." "Well. Allow a week for that fact to get fixed firmly in your mind, another for preparation, why shouldn't 'some day' be Saturday week?" "Don't be ridiculous." "It's you who are ridiculous. If you keep me waiting long I shall kiss you all away." "Am I the only girl you've ever kissed?" "Yes." "That's a fib; I saw you kiss Mary." "Gracious! When?" "Have you been so much in the habit of kissing Mary that you need ask when?" "If by Mary you mean Miss Carmichael, I don't remember to have ever kissed her once." "Well, I remember. And let me tell you something, sir: there have been times when--I've been jealous of Mary." "Good gracious me! what an extraordinary child! Miss Carmichael's sole recommendation to me has been that she's your friend; besides, hasn't Tom an eye on her?" "Oh, Tom! Tom never would see anything--like that; but I see. Honestly, don't you think Mary's very pretty?" "She's not bad, in a way; but she's not to be compared with you." "That she certainly isn't; you don't imagine that you can make me believe that I'm--a tenth part as pretty as Mary? Do you take me for a perfect goose?" "Stella, do you remember what you said before dinner about the ring. You said--I don't know if you meant it." "I meant every word I said, Rodney." "Well, sweetheart, you said it was the most beautiful ring you had ever seen. Just as you said that, and meant it, I say and mean that you are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen; and, to me, you will be the most beautiful girl, as long as I live." "Do you really mean that? Really?" "By the time we're--Darby and Joan, you'll know I mean it. Now, young woman, I'm as one who speaks with authority. I'm authorised to inform you that if you will stand with me at the altar inside a month you will make your mother happy and your father happy, to say nothing of me. So which day next month is it to be? Shall I put it at the first?" "Who told you to say that?"