`` You look well at the head of a table , Nancy , '' he said critically . `` How is it that you have n't been presiding at one of your own long before this ? I thought you 'd meet a lots of men out in the world that you 'd like -- men who talked good grammar . '' `` Peter , do n't ! '' said Nancy , wincing . `` I was a goose . '' `` No , you were quite right . I was a tetchy fool . If I 'd had any sense , I 'd have felt thankful you thought enough of me to want to improve me , and I 'd have tried to kerrect my mistakes instead of getting mad . It 's too late now , I suppose . '' `` Too late for what ? '' said Nancy , plucking up heart of grace at something in Peter 's tone and look . `` For -- kerrecting mistakes . '' `` Grammatical ones ? '' `` Not exactly . I guess them mistakes are past kerrecting in an old fellow like me . Worse mistakes , Nancy . I wonder what you would say if I asked you to forgive me , and have me after all . '' `` I 'd snap you up before you 'd have time to change your mind , '' said Nancy brazenly . She tried to look Peter in the face , but her blue eyes , where tears and mirth were blending , faltered down before his gray ones .
Peter stood up , knocking over his chair , and strode around the table XXXXX her .
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