“Oh! that is what you are after, is it?” and Mr. Sherwood leaned back in his couch and smiled.  “I had not given the matter a thought, though I might have known there were other attractions than a sick man in the house.  Well, Traverse, I am pleased to hear your request, for I have always had a personal liking for you, and I do not wonder that you have reached my daughter’s susceptible heart.  My life is not going to last much longer; the doctor may bolster me up for a little while, but the end is coming fast.  I feel my strength going daily, and I shall feel relieved to see her settled in a home of her own before I am gone.  Gussie is young and inexperienced, but you will make her a good, kind husband, I feel sure.”

“Oh! but you mistake me, Mr. Sherwood,” said Guy, speaking quickly; “it is not Miss Gussie I am asking for.  I admire her beauty and respect her highly, but it is Miss Dexie I want for a wife.”

“Dexie!  Man alive! what nonsense is this!  You don’t mean to tell me that it is Dexie you have been making love to all this time?” said he, in surprise.

“Well, I haven’t made much love to her yet, I must confess,” he replied, laughing at Mr. Sherwood’s astonished face; “but that is because she won’t let me.  She will not give me the chance! indeed, I can hardly get a word from her at all lately.  Does it look to you as if I should be asking for Miss Gussie, Mr. Sherwood?  Believe me, I have never said a word to her more than has been said in your presence, that would lead to the inference that I had serious intentions in regard to her.  I hope you will not refuse to give me the one I want.”

“Well, well, I don’t know what to say, Traverse; it is so sudden.  I never thought of you in connection with Dexie, and upon my word, Traverse, she doesn’t appear to be very much in love with you either, if I am any judge!” and Mr. Sherwood looked up at Traverse, who was standing by his couch, his hands clasped behind his back in a waiting attitude.  “Now, with Gussie it would be an easy matter.”

“Mr. Sherwood, I am happy to know that you are not indifferent to me, apart from the fact that I aspire to be your son-in-law.  I am sure you will understand that I mean no offence when I say that while I admire Miss Gussie I should not care to make her my wife; Miss Dexie is different.”

“Well, it strikes me, Traverse, that the difference is not in your favor,” and Mr. Sherwood smiled as he watched Guy’s restless movements, for he was now walking up and down the room.

“Love-making must be done in a different way than when I was a young man, I fancy.”

“Give your consent to the wooing, Mr. Sherwood, and I’ll do the winning.  I will frankly admit that at present she appears to dislike me heartily, but I have grounds to hope that there will be a change very soon.  The signs may not be visible to others, but I am not in despair, by any means,” and he stopped by the couch and smiled down at Mr. Sherwood’s face.