Дети капитана Гранта

           Itwasthenthatanamiablelady,aboutthirtyyearsofage,infact,acousinofMcNabbs,alittleeccentricherself,butgoodandstillcharming,fellinlovewiththegeographer’soddities,andofferedhimherhand.Fortythousandpoundswentwithit,butthatwasnotmentioned.

           PaganelwasfarfrombeinginsensibletothesentimentsofMissArabella,butyethedidnotdaretospeak.ItwastheMajorwhowasthemediumofcommunicationbetweenthesetwosouls,evidentlymadeforeachother.HeeventoldPaganelthathismarriagewasthelastfreakhewouldbeabletoallowhimself.Paganelwasinagreatstateofembarrassment,butstrangelyenoughcouldnotmakeuphismindtospeakthefatalword.

           "DoesnotMissArabellapleaseyouthen?"askedMcNabbs.

           "Oh,Major,sheischarming,"exclaimedPaganel,"athousandtimestoocharming,andifImusttellyouall,shewouldpleasemebetterifshewerelessso.Iwishshehadadefect!"

           "Beeasyonthatscore,"repliedtheMajor,"shehas,andmorethanone.Themostperfectwomanintheworldhasalwaysherquota.So,Paganel,itissettledthen,Isuppose?"

           "Idarenot."

           "Come,now,mylearnedfriend,whatmakesyouhesitate?"

           "IamunworthyofMissArabella,"wastheinvariablereplyofthegeographer.Andtothishewouldstick.

           Atlast,onedaybeingfairlydriveninacornerbytheintractableMajor,heendedbyconfidingtohim,underthesealofsecrecy,acertainpeculiaritywhichwouldfacilitatehisapprehensionshouldthepoliceeverbeonhistrack.