At sight of him Rose seized Josephine
tight and bade her hold her tongue, as she could not say "no" plump
to any one. Josephine was far from raising any objection to the
arrangement.
"Monsieur," said Rose, before he could get a word out, "even if she had
not declined, I could not consent."
Raynal tapped his forehead reflectively, and drew forth from memory that
he had no instructions whatever to ask HER consent.
She colored high, but returned to the charge.
"Is her own consent to be dispensed with too? She declined the honor,
did she not?"
"Of course she did; but this was anticipated in my instructions. I am to
be sure and not take the first two or three refusals."
"O Josephine, look at that insolent boy: he has found you out."
"Insolent boy!" cried Raynal; "why, it is the referee of your own
choosing, and as well behaved a lad as ever I saw, and a zealous
officer."
"My kind friends," put in Josephine with a sweet languor, "I cannot let
you quarrel about a straw."
"It is not about a straw," said Raynal, "it is about you."
"The distinction involves a compliment, sir," said Josephine; then she
turned to Rose, "Is it possible you do not see Monsieur Raynal's strange
proposal in its true light? and you so shrewd in general.
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