I should love to give you a thimble , ' Peter said gravely , so he gave her one . He gave her quite a number of thimbles , and then a delightful idea came into his head . ` Maimie , ' he said , ` will you marry me ? ' -LSB- Illustration : ` My Lord Duke , ' said the physician elatedly , ' I have the honour to inform your excellency that your grace is in love ' -RSB- Now , strange to tell , the same idea had come at exactly the same time into Maimie 's head . ' I should like to , ' she answered , ` but will there be room in your boat for two ? ' ` If you squeeze close , ' he said eagerly . ` Perhaps the birds would be angry ? ' He assured her that the birds would love to have her , though I am not so certain of it myself . Also that there were very few birds in winter . ` Of course they might want your clothes , ' he had to admit rather falteringly . She was somewhat indignant at this . ` They are always thinking of their nests , ' he said apologetically , ` and there are some bits of you ' -- he stroked the fur on her pelisse -- ` that would excite them very much . ' ` They sha n't have my fur , ' she said sharply . ` No , ' he said , still fondling it , however , ` no . O Maimie , ' he said rapturously , ` do you know why I love you ? It is because you are like a beautiful nest . ' Somehow this made her uneasy . ' I think you are speaking more like a bird than a boy now , ' she said , holding back , and indeed he was even looking rather like a bird . ` After all , ' she said , ` you are only a Betwixt-and-Between . ' But it hurt him so much that she immediately added , ` It must be a delicious thing to be . '
` Come and be one , then , dear XXXXX , ' he implored her , and they set off for the boat , for it was now very near Open-Gate time .
Betwixt-and-Between Duke Illustration Maimie Peter course love number pelisse thimbles