“Goodness gracious me, Mr. Prosper!”

This sort of coyness was to have been expected, and he therefore continued with another portion of his prepared words, which now came glibly enough to him.  But it was a previous portion.  It was all the same to Miss Thoroughbung, as it declared plainly the gentleman’s intention.  “If I can induce you to listen to me favorably, I shall say of myself that I am the happiest gentleman in Hertfordshire.”

“Oh, Mr. Prosper!”

“My purpose is to lay at your feet my hand, my heart, and the lands of Buston.”  Here he was again going backward, but it did not much matter now in what sequence the words were said.  The offer had been thoroughly completed and was thoroughly understood.

“A lady, Mr. Prosper, has to think of these things,” said Miss Thoroughbung.

“Of course I would not wish to hurry you prematurely to any declaration of your affections.”

“But there are other considerations, Mr. Prosper.  You know about my property?”

“Nothing particularly.  It has not been a matter of consideration with me.”  This he said with some slight air of offence.  He was a gentleman, whereas Miss Thoroughbung was hardly a lady.  Matter of consideration her money of course had been.  How should he not consider it?  But he was aware that he ought not to rush on that subject, but should leave it to the arrangement of lawyers, expressing his own views through her own lawyer.  To her it was the thing of most importance, and she had no feelings which induced her to be silent on a matter so near to her.  She rushed.

“But it has to be considered, Mr. Prosper.  It is all my own, and comes to very nearly one thousand a year.  I think it is nine hundred and seventy-two pounds six shillings and eightpence.  Of course, when there is so much money it would have to be tied up somehow.”  Mr. Prosper was undoubtedly disgusted, and if he could have receded at this moment would have transferred his affections to Miss Puffle.  “Of course you understand that.”

She had not accepted him as yet, nor said a word of her regard for him.  All that went, it seemed, as a matter of no importance whatever.  He had been standing for the last few minutes, and now he remained standing and looking at her.  They were both silent, so that he was obliged to speak.  “I understand that between a lady and gentleman so circumstanced there should be a settlement.”

“Just so.”

“I also have some property,” said Mr. Prosper, with a touch of pride in his tone.

“Of course you have.  Goodness gracious me!  Why else would you come?  You have got Buston, which I suppose is two thousand a year.  At any rate it has that name.  But it isn’t your own.”

“Not my own?”

“Well, no.  You couldn’t leave it to your widow, so that she might give it to any one she pleased when you were gone.”  Here the gentleman frowned very darkly, and thought that after all Miss Puffle would be the woman for him.  “All that has to be considered, and it makes Buston not exactly your own.  If I were to have a daughter she wouldn’t have it.”