“What are you afraid of?” he asked, his smile brightening with innocent wonder. “Afraid? You do yourself too much honour. One does not like to find oneself in close proximity with objects that disgust one,” she explained. He laughed; but instead of moving further towards her, he dropped into a chair. “You were always brutally outspoken,” he murmured. “Yes; and with advancing years I’ve become even more so,” said Johannah, who continued to stand. “You’re quite sure, though, that you’re not afraid of me?” he questioned. “Oh, for that, as sure as sure can be. If you’ve based any sort of calculations upon the theory that I would be afraid of you, you’ll have to throw them over.” He flushed a little, as if with anger; but in a moment he said calmly, “You’ve come into a perfect pot of money since I last had the pleasure of meeting you.” “Yes, into something like eight thousand a year, if the figures interest you.” “I never had any head for figures,” he answered, smiling. “But eight thousand sounds stupendous. And a lovely place, into the bargain. The park, or so much of it as one sees from the avenue, could not be better. And I permitted myself to admire the façade of the house and the view of the sea.” “They’re not bad,” Johannah assented. “It’s heart-rending,” he remarked, “the way things are shared in this world. Here are you, rich beyond the dreams of avarice, you who have done nothing all your life but take your pleasure; and I, who’ve toiled like a galley-slave, I remain as poor as any church-mouse. It’s monstrous.” Johannah did not answer. “And now,” he went on, “I suppose you’ve settled down and become respectable? No more Bohemia? No more cakes and ale? Only champagne and truffles? A County Family! Fancy your being a County Family, all by yourself, as it were! You must feel rather like the reformed rake of tradition—don’t you?” “I mentioned that I am not afraid of you,” she reminded him, “but that doesn’t in the least imply that I find you amusing. The plain truth is, I find you deadly tiresome. If you have anything special to say to me, may I ask you to say it quickly?” Again he flushed a little; then again, in a moment, answered smoothly, “I’ll say it in a sentence. I’ve come all the way to England, for the purpose of offering you my hand in marriage.” And he raised his bright blue eyes to her face with a look that really was seraphic. “I decline the offer. If you’ve nothing further to keep you here, I’ll ring to have you shown out.” Still again he flushed, yet once more controlled himself. “You decline the offer! Allons donc! When I am prepared to do the right thing, and make an honest woman of you.” “I decline the offer,” Johannah repeated. “That’s foolish of you,” said he. “If you could dream how remotely your opinion interests me, you wouldn’t trouble to express it,” said she.