`` But I ca n't remember whether I asked you to marry me that day we dug up the garden or not . If I did it makes -- '' `` No , you did n't , '' I interrupted . `` Well , that makes it eleven , '' said Max reflectively . `` Pretty near the limit , is n't it ? My manly pride will not allow me to propose to the same girl more than twelve times . So the next time will be the last , Sue darling . '' `` Oh , '' I said , a trifle flatly . I forgot to resent his calling me darling . I wondered if things would n't be rather dull when Max gave up proposing to me . It was the only excitement I had . But of course it would be best -- and he could n't go on at it forever , so , by the way of gracefully dismissing the subject , I asked him what Miss Shirley was like . `` Very sweet girl , '' said Max . `` You know I always admired those gray-eyed girls with that splendid Titian hair . '' I am dark , with brown eyes . Just then I detested Max . I got up and said I was going to get some milk for Fatima . I found Ismay in a rage in the kitchen . She had been up in the garret , and a mouse had run across her foot . Mice always get on Ismay 's nerves . `` We need a cat badly enough , '' she fumed , `` but not a useless , pampered thing , like Fatima .
That garret is literally swarming XXXXX mice .
across for if in like near of to whether with