'
'Indeed, Henry?' I said, with lowered eyes and modest mien.
'Yes. If you remember I was editing the _Gazette_ at the time I first
met you, and although you, as one of my contributors, often came up to
the office to see me, we remained for a long time on a purely business
footing.'
It is true Henry was an unconscionable time in coming to the point.
'Entirely business-like,' I acquiesced.
'When you called to see me to discuss a gross misstatement in one of
your articles (which you refused to acknowledge until I had sent for
you to put the matter clearly before you), you did not conduct yourself
like so many other girls who came to discuss their work with me. You
did not attempt to engage in a mild flirtation, make eyes, bend over me
as I glanced through the manuscript----'
'Oh, bad, bad girls,' I murmured. 'Do women behave like that with you,
Henry?'
'They _did_, my dear. I am speaking of the time before I was married.'
I smiled. What a comfort it is to have a Scotsman for a husband! He
is so solid and reliable regarding the opposite sex.
'You, however, employed none of these wiles,' he continued, 'and were
almost studiously cold and business-like. For a long time I thought I
should never interest you in myself--in fact, I know I took you very
much by surprise when I made you an offer, didn't I?'
'I was rather surprised, Henry,' I said, smiling at his retreating form
as he went out of the room.
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