The whole thing was so entirely a matter of business that perhaps it was not strange that she spoke with so little sign of emotion. Most women, it is true, would hardly come so near to proposing to a man without some frivolous airs of coquetry; but Miss Wentstile was a remarkable and exceptional woman, and her air was much that in which she might have talked of building a new house. "Ees eet dat de wonderful Mees Wentsteele would marry wid me for all dat _dot_?" Miss Wentstile took him up somewhat quickly. "I don't say that I would, Count," she returned; "but since you've been treated so badly by my niece, I thought I would talk with you to see how the idea struck you." "Oh, eet weell be heavenly sweet to know what we weell be mine for all dat _dot_," the Count asserted, bowing with his hand on his heart. She smiled somewhat acidly, and yet not so forbiddingly as to daunt him. "If we are yours what is there left for me?" she asked. "Ah," the Count sighed, with a shake of his head, "dat Engleesh--" "Never mind," she interrupted, "I understand that if I do marry you I get the name and not much else." "But de name!" he cried with fervor. "De Shimbowski name! Oh, eet ees dat de name weell be older dan dere was any mans een dees country." "I dare say that is true," she responded, smiling more pleasantly. "My sentiments for the name are warm enough." "De _sentiments_ of de esteemfully Mees Wentsteele ees proud for me," he declared, rising to bow. "Ees eet dat we weell marry wid me? Mees Wentsteele ees more detracteeve for me wid her _dot_ dan Mees Endeecott. Eet ees mooch more detracteeve." "Well," Miss Wentstile said, rising also, "I thought I would see how the idea struck you. I haven't made up my mind. My friends would say I was an old fool, but I can please myself, thank heaven." The Count took her hand and bowed over it with all his courtly grace, kissing it respectfully. "Ah," he told her, echoing her words with unfortunate precision, "one old fool ees so heavenly keend!" Miss Wentstile started, but the innocence of his intention was evident, and she offered no correction. She bade him good-by with a beaming kindness, and for the rest of the day carried herself with the conscious pride of a woman who could be married if she would.