Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 104: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

MAKING A PROMISE. 95 ‘*Will you do as I suggest?”’ ‘Try me.”’ Dick outlined a very elaborate pattern on the table with the paper-knife and did not respond at once. At length he spoke. | ‘Are you willing to tell me, first, what she said when you proposed to her?’’ he asked. ‘*Verbatim?’’ uttered Arthur, in consternation. ‘*Certainly not,’’ returned Dick; ‘‘that would be a cruel and perhaps impossible, task to set an ardent lover. But as near as you can recollect.’’ Arthur complied with a melancholy air, and when he had finished Dick nodded his head wisely. ‘‘In your place, my boy,’’ he uttered, ‘‘I would simply— wait.”’ Arthur glanced at him sullenly. ‘‘Wait? for what, pray?’’ ‘‘For events to shape themselves. ’’ ‘““Upon my soul, Dick, you’re simply idiotic. Events have shaped themselves, I should judge,’’ he exclaimed, ‘‘and decidedly to my discomfort. ”’ ‘‘Well, then, until they unshape themselves. ”’ ‘Why will you persist in talking through your hat? What are you driving at? Are you suggesting that I go sniveling to her again and beg her to reconsider her deci- gion?’’ cried Arthur, derisively. ‘‘That would be a decent, high-spirited sort of performance! She’d have no end of re- spect for me in future, of course.”’ ‘‘Not so fast,’’ said Dick, calmly. ‘‘Perhaps I see a little more clearly than you do.”’ - ‘Perhaps, but pardon me, if I say that I don’t believe it.”’ ‘‘You’re not in condition to believe much of anything Gomichbooks co