"I want a woman that doesn't like me for my money, and that at the same time would know how to act and would be--be sensible. I've had you in mind ever since you explained your system for--for"--he smiled faintly--"exploiting mother and father. And mother has been talking in the same way of late. She says we can't afford to let you get out of the family. That's all, I guess--all you'd have patience to hear." "Then you were making me a serious business proposition?" said I. "Well, you might call it that," he admitted, as if he weren't altogether satisfied with my way of summing it up. "I'm much obliged, but it doesn't attract me," I said. He gave a kind of hopeless gesture. "I've put it all wrong," said he. "I always _say_ things wrong. But--I--I believe I _do_ things better." And he gave me a look that I liked. It was such a quaint mingling of such a nice man with such a nice boy. "I understand perfectly," said I, and I can't tell how much I hated to hurt him--he did so remind me of dear old "ma" Burke. "But--please don't discuss it. I couldn't consider the matter--possibly." "You won't leave!" he exclaimed. "I assure you I'll not annoy you. You must admit, Miss Talltowers, that I haven't tried to thrust myself on you in the past. And--really, mother and father couldn't get on at all without you." "Certainly, I shan't leave--why should I?" said I. "I'm very well satisfied with my position." "Thank you," he said with an awkward bow, and he left me alone. Of course, I couldn't possibly marry him. But I suppose a woman's vanity compels her to take a more favorable view of any man after she's found out that he wishes to marry her. Anyhow, I find I don't dislike him at all as I thought I did. I couldn't help being amused at myself the next day. I was driving with Jessie, and she was giving me her usual sermon on the advantages of the Burke alliance--if I could by chance scheme it through. "You're very pretty, Gus," she said. "In fact you're beautiful at times. Men do like height when it goes with your sort of a--a willowy figure. Your eyes alone--if you would only _use_ them--would catch him. And the Burkes would be--well, they might object a little at first because you've given them a position that has no doubt swollen their heads--but they'd yield gracefully. And although you are very attractive and are always having men in love with you, you've simply got to make up your mind soon. Look how many such nice, good-looking girls have been crowded aside by the young ones. Men are crazy about freshness, no matter what they pretend. Yes, you must decide, dear. And--I couldn't _endure_ poor Carteret when I married him." Carteret is a miserable specimen, and Jessie's ways keep him in a dazed state--like an old hen sitting on a limb and turning her head round and round to keep watch on a fox that's racing in a circle underneath. Fox doesn't seem exactly to fit Jessie, but sometimes I suspect--however--