"Suppose--something was going to happen?" "Well, isn't something always going to happen? What especially awful thing are you afraid is going to happen?" "Suppose--something was going to happen--to me--because of you? Suppose--I was going----" Her voice died away, her eyes fell. "You don't mean that----" "I do." "Good God! It's--it's impossible!" "Why is it impossible? It's true." "But, my--my dear girl, it can't be." "Why can't it be? It is." "But--you're not sure. How can you be sure? You know, my dear Mabel, how you do fancy things. I'll bet ten to one that you're mistaken." "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?" "Marry you! Mabel!" "Don't you mean that you will marry me?" "My dear girl, it's--it's impossible!" "Why is it impossible? Are you married already?" "Good Lord, no!" "Then why can't you marry me?" "As if you didn't know!" "What do I know?" "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."