'What do you mean?' said Dorothy.
'I mean, will you, think well before you answer; I admit there are some very obvious objections, but, will you marry me?'
Dorothy's lips parted with surprise. Perhaps she turned a little paler. With a hasty, almost unconscious recoil she moved as far away from him as the back of the seat would allow. But he had made no movement towards her. He said with complete equanimity: ’You know, of course, that Dolores [Dolores was Mr Warburton's ex-mistress] left me a year ago?'
'But I can't, I can't!' exclaimed Dorothy. 'You know I can't! I’m not, like that. I thought you always knew. I shan't ever marry.'
Mr Warburton ignored this remark.
'I grant you,' he said, still with exemplary calmness, 'that I don't exactly come under the heading of eligible young men.
