I will own up honestly that I 'd love to be rich . '' It always seems to make Jack blue and grumpy when I talk like that . I suppose that is one reason why he never asked me to settle down in life as a country doctor 's wife . Another was , no doubt , that I always nipped his sentimental sproutings religiously in the bud . Three weeks ago Alicia wrote to me , asking me to spend the winter with her . Her letters always make me just gasp with longing for the life they describe . Jack 's face , when I told him about it , was so woebegone that I felt a stab of remorse , even in the heyday of my delight . `` Do you really mean it , Kitty ? Are you going away to leave me ? '' `` You wo n't miss me much , '' I said flippantly -- I had a creepy , crawly presentiment that a scene of some kind was threatening -- `` and I 'm awfully tired of Thrush Hill and country life , Jack . I suppose it is horribly ungrateful of me to say so , but it is the truth . '' `` I shall miss you , '' he said soberly . Somehow he had my hands in his . How did he ever get them ? I was sure I had them safely tucked out of harm 's way behind me . `` You know , Kitty , that I love you . I am a poor man -- perhaps I may never be anything else -- and this may seem to you very presumptuous . But I can not let you go like this . Will you be my wife , dear ? '' Was n't it horribly straightforward and direct ?
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Alicia Hill Jack Kitty anything harm life presentiment sproutings wife