Now Alex was really intrigued. Meanwhile, Emma took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. She knew before that it would not be easy, but she could not even imagine to what extent.
"Alex," she said at last, "I need ... I mean, I want to ... No, I can not!" She raised her huge, shining eyes to him: "It's very difficult for me to say this."
"I see," Alex said sympathetically. "But still?"
"You see, Alex, I ... I want to ask for your hand."
These words were uttered so quickly that Alex blinked in confusion, not knowing what to say and what to do next.
Emma looked at him with concern.
"Alex!"
"You seem to be asking me to marry you?"
Emma began to fiddle with the folds of her dark green skirt.
- Yes, I said just that.
Alex was still at a loss. He had just convinced himself that it w
