That dog 's a hero , sir , that 's what he is ! '' Miss Madeline 's Proposal `` Auntie , I have something to tell you , '' said Lina , with a blush that made her look more than ever like one of the climbing roses that nodded about the windows of the `` old Churchill place , '' as it was always called in Lower Wentworth . Miss Madeline , sitting in the low rocker by the parlour window , seemed like the presiding genius of the place . Everything about her matched her sweet old-fashionedness , from the crown of her soft brown hair , dressed in the style of her long ago girlhood , to the toes of her daintily slippered feet . Outside of the old Churchill place , in the busy streets of the up-to-date little town , Miss Madeline might have seemed out of harmony with her surroundings . But here , in this dim room , faintly scented with whiffs from the rose garden outside , she was like a note in some sweet , perfect melody of old time . Lina , sitting on a little stool at Miss Madeline 's feet with her curly head in her aunt 's lap , was as pretty as Miss Madeline herself had once been . She was also very happy , and her happiness seemed to envelop her as in an atmosphere and lend her a new radiance and charm . Miss Madeline loved her pretty niece very dearly and patted the curly head tenderly with her slender white hands . `` What is it , my dear ? '' `` I 'm -- I 'm engaged , '' whispered Lina , hiding her face in Miss Madeline 's flowered muslin lap . `` Engaged ! '' Miss Madeline 's tone was one of surprise and awe . She blushed as she said the word as deeply as Lina had done . Then she went on , with a little quiver of excitement in her voice , `` To whom , my dear ? '' `` Oh , you do n't know him , Auntie , but I hope you will soon . His name is Ralph Wylde . Is n't it pretty ? I met him last winter , and we became very good friends . But we had a quarrel before I came down here and , oh , I have been so unhappy over it .
Three weeks XXXXX he wrote me and begged my pardon -- so nice of him , because I was really all to blame , you know .
about ago at before by from like of over to