and he must have black or very dark eyes, and a long black moustache that sweeps, but is not waxed."
"Yes."
"He must keep me in rare good order, and not let me get my own way, for though I love to have it, it is bad for me; but he must never slap me or call me names."
"Good heavens!" exclaims George, "does a gentleman ever do that?"
"Sometimes! And he must be very fond of my people, and have them to stay with us very often, and let me go and stop with them."
"And you are quite sure he must be dark?"
"I think so; but if he were very nice and kind, I should not mind so much about his complexion."
"Do you think that I should do, Nell?" asked the young man, half eagerly, half jestingly, "when you are quite grown up—eighteen or thereabouts?"
"You!" I say, staring at him. "Oh, George! do you mean it; are you joking?"
"Not a bit of it! You are the dearest little girl, and the nicest little girl, and the prettiest little girl I ever saw, and you'll only be dearer and nicer and prettier as you grow older, and I'm fonder of you than anything or anybody under the sun."
"Including the Mummy?" I ask, rallying from the shock his calling me pretty has caused me.
"Including him?"
"George!" I say, beginning to cackle again. "Don't think me very rude, but is it, is it a real offer you have made me?"
"I suppose so," he says, beginning to laugh too, "why?"
"Because not one of us, not even Alice, had an offer made her at the age of fourteen before. I am certain no one ever asked Milly to marry her, and I don't think any one ever did Jack."
