No private conversation, no walking
out together, nothing but commonplace talk and solemn looks. I said
to myself, 'If there is anything between them, they keep it mighty
close to be sure.' On the Tuesday evening, however, he spoke to me.
He said:
"'I hope you won't mention it, Mrs. Martin, but I would like to have
a little advice from you, if you would be so kind as to give it.
Miss Edgeworth has been living with you for some time, and you must
be well acquainted with her. I am thinking of making a proposal, but
our intercourse has been so slight, that I should be pleased first to
have your opinion on the matter.'
"'Mr. Philip,' I said, 'you really must not ask me to say anything
one way or the other, for or against. I have my own sentiments, of
course; but nobody shall ever say that I either made a match or
marred one.'
"Nothing happened until the next day. In the afternoon Miss
Edgeworth was alone in this room, when I heard Mr. Philip walking
down the passage, and stopping at the door, which was half open. I
peeped out, and then put off my slippers, and stepped a little
nearer, until through the little opening between the door and the
door-post, I could both see and hear them. He was sitting on the
table, dangling his boots to and fro just above the floor, and she
was sitting on a low rocking-chair about six feet distant.
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