THE REDEMPTION OF ANTHONY
how to talk to you," she answered frankly, as he sat down beside her.
"Why so abstracted?" said Mrs. Martin to Drake.
"I'm not. I came to ask you to marry me."
"Tony! What do you mean?"
"Just that. I've tried to do it twice before and been interrupted, and I want to get it settled."
"Oh, but not here and now!"
"Why not?"
"With Peter and Priscilla here, and all."
"Well, they can't hear us; they seem quite absorbed."
"But, Tony, it's like proposing in a street-car—it's so unromantic!"
"Oh, well, if you come to that, I am unromantic, and no one knows it better than you."
"No, no one does."
"Why not settle it right here, then, and be done with it? I've been thinking over your idea of going abroad, and it seems a good
42
