A PROPOSAL 95

say he will be off on one of his everlasting
fishing expeditions: anyway there can be no
harm in asking him, so I start off at once
and soon discover him lounging in the ham-
mock. I come to the point at once and say,
“Jack, I have something to propose to you.”

“Well, out with it,” answers Jack; “only
I hope it’s nothing more about those precious
roses 2”

“O no!” I ery hastily; “thank goodness
they are finished with for the present, so
pray don’t remind me of them: no, I was
wondering if you would care to come on the
river this afternoon? it’s awfully hot to play
tennis or anything, and I thought if you were
not going fishing that it would be rather
jolly.”

“Well, so it would, of course,’ answers
Jack; “but I must say it’s rather a good joke .
your proposing such a thing, when you pre-
tend to be so tremendously shocked when-
ever I go out fishing; pray, what would
Father say if he heard we had been on the
river alone?”