Deceived, the poor man had to be--for his own good, but my story must be
made to hold water and ring true, else, with his doubting and probing
nature, I well knew he'd ferret out the facts and very like leave me a
loser.
But one man there was, who could well be trusted to play his part in this
difficult matter, and he knew the circumstances and had already asked me
time and again when Gregory was going to take the plunge. So I went to
Arthur Parable and explained the situation and hoped, as an old friend and
a well-wisher and a man far above suspicion, he'd lend a hand.
"It's like this, Arthur," I said. "I can trust you with my secrets, you
being a man never known to talk and also a great friend of poor John's."
And then I explained how it was with Mr. Sweet and how he only wanted just
a clever push from outside to propose and be done with it.
Arthur heard me in silence, then he spoke. "You don't want me to tell the
man to offer for you?" he asked, and I replied:
"No Arthur--far from it; but I want you to fall in with a little plot.
There's nothing quickens a man like Gregory so fast as finding he isn't
the only pebble on the beach; and if he was to hear my praises on your
lips, or find us two taking a walk by the river, or drop in and see you
drinking your dish of tea along with me once and again, I'm tolerable sure
that he'd find the words.
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