"I haven't spoken to her yet."
"Haven't spoken to her?"
"I thought it more orthodox to break ground with you first."
"Well, when I was after Mrs. Dosson I guess I spoke to her quick enough," Francie's father said, humorously. There was an element of reproach in this and Gaston Probert was mystified, for the inquiry about his means a moment before had been in the nature of a challenge. "How will you feel if she won't have you, after you have exposed yourself this way to me?" the old gentleman went on.
"Well, I have a sort of confidence. It may be vain, but God grant not! I think she likes me personally, but what I am afraid of is that she may consider that she knows too little about me. She has never seen my people—she doesn't know what may be before her."
"Do you mean your family—the folks at home?" said Mr. Dosson. "Don't you believe that. Delia has moused around—she has found out. Delia's thorough!"
"Well, we are very simple, kindly, respectable people, as you will see in a day or two for yourself. My father and sisters will do themselves the honour to wait upon you," the young man declared, with a temerity the sense of which made his voice tremble.
"We shall be very happy to see them, sir," Mr.
