"As I have begun, I must go on with it now," he replied, raising his
voice a little, as though it were necessary that he should do so to make
her hear him through the rain and darkness. She moved a little further
away from him with unthinking irritation; but still he went on with his
purpose. "Miss Clavering, I know that I am ill-suited to play the part
of a lover; very ill-suited." Then she gave a start and again splashed
herself sadly. "I have never read how it is done in books, and have not
allowed my imagination to dwell much on such things."

"Mr. Saul, don't go on; pray don't." Now she did understand what was
coming.

"Yes, Miss Clavering, I must go on now; but not on that account would I
press you to give me an answer to-day. I have learned to love you, and,
if you can love me in return, I will take you by the hand, and you shall
be my wife. I have found that in you which I have been unable not to
love--not to covet that I may bind it to myself as my own forever. Will
you think of this, and give me an answer when you have considered it
fully?" He had not spoken altogether amiss, and Fanny, though she was
very angry with him, was conscious of this. The time he had chosen might
not be considered suitable for a declaration of love, nor the place;
but, having chosen them, he had, perhaps, made the best of them. There
had been no hesitation in his voice, and his words had been perfectly
audible.

"Oh, Mr. Saul, of course I can assure you at once," said Fanny. "There
need not be any consideration. I really have never thought--" Fanny, who
knew her own mind on the matter thoroughly, was hardly able to express
herself plainly and without incivility. As soon as that phrase "of