He 's SO shy and awkward . How did he ever manage to get up enough spunk to ask her to marry him ? '' `` Maybe she asked him , '' suggested Dan . The Story Girl looked as if she might tell if she would . `` I believe that WAS the way of it , '' I said , to draw her on . `` Not exactly , '' she said reluctantly . `` I know all about it but I ca n't tell you . I guessed part from things I 've seen -- and Miss Reade told me a good deal -- and the Awkward Man himself told me his side of it as we came home last night . I met him just as I left Mr. Armstrong 's and we were together as far as his house . It was dark and he just talked on as if he were talking to himself -- I think he forgot I was there at all , once he got started . He has never been shy or awkward with me , but he never talked as he did last night . '' `` You might tell us what he said , '' urged Cecily . `` We 'd never tell . '' The Story Girl shook her head . `` No , I ca n't . You would n't understand . Besides , I could n't tell it just right . It 's one of the things that are hardest to tell . I 'd spoil it if I told it -- now . Perhaps some day I 'll be able to tell it properly .
It 's very beautiful -- but it might sound very ridiculous if it was n't XXXXX just exactly the right way . ''
forgot met said spoil suggested talked talking told understand urged