"A kind of giddy sensation has come upon me, miss," he explained, "which rather knocks me over. I--er--a little subject to this sort of thing--er--by George!"
I gave him a little time to recover. He consumed it in putting his hand to his forehead and taking it away again, and in backing his chair into the corner behind him.
"My intention was to remark, miss," said Mr. Guppy, "dear me--something bronchial, I think--hem!--to remark that you was so good on that occasion as to repel and repudiate that declaration. You--you wouldn't perhaps object to admit that? Though no witnesses are present, it might be a satisfaction to--to your mind--if you was to put in that admission."
"There can be no doubt," said I, "that I declined your proposal without any reservation or qualification whatever, Mr. Guppy."

"A giddy sensation has come upon me, miss," he explained, "which rather knocks me over. I - er - by George! I - I think, miss - dear me, something bronchial - er - I think you was so good on that occasion as to repel that declaration. You - you wouldn't perhaps object to admitting that?"
"There can be no doubt," said I, "that I declined your proposal without any reservation, Mr. Guppy."
