W. Pett Ridge

“ You've heard me speak of him, Bunn?"
"Over and over again!" said Mr. Bunn.
"Fancy that, now!" said Miss. Coles delightedly. "It just shows how small the world is, don't it? He's stationed at Aldershot just now, and, if all goes well——"
"The 'buses seem uncommonly full, captain!" said Mr. Bunn. "I wonder whether this young lady would mind if we walked on with her? It isn't quite the thing for a young girl with an attractive style to be seen alone."
Miss Martha Coles was no longer a young girl, and she had never been told that she possessed an attractive style. ”

“ Bunn. "Tastes differ."
"I made up my mind long ago," said Miss Coles firmly, "that I never would allow myself to be kissed all over the shop like some girls, and I've always set my face against it as far as I could."
"Then till to-morrow evening," said Mr. Bunn genially, "good-bye."
And went off to meet his friend, Captain Mayhew.
Mr. Bunn did what promising lovers occasionally forget to do. He met Miss Coles as appointed, and, what was more, he brought the gold bracelet with him. Indeed, his demeanour as an admirer could scarcely he excelled. ”

“ The bracelet was followed by other presents, all calculated to make the feminine heart heat pleasantly. Miss Martha Coles accepted them, mentioning that she was not worthy of them, to which Mr. Bunn responded with much gallantry, "Nonsense!"
"I tell you what I should like, Martha, dear," said Mr. Bunn, when his acquaintance had lasted a week. They were walking in Kensington Gardens. "I should like above all things——"
"You mustn't call me dear," said Miss Coles, "and it's no use your asking again to let you kiss me. Girls can't be too particular." ”