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"You're just full of charm, aren't you?" she said sarcastically

"Ce'Nedra, what is the probleet on with the story You always dawdle so when you're tellinglike this"

"Me? You're the one who keeps interrupting"

"Just ed "There isn't much more He asked her; she said yes; and then I marched them down to the chapel"

"The words, Garion," she insisted "The words Exactly what did he say?"

"Nothing very earth-shaking It went sort of like 'Wilt thou have me as thy husband, Nerina?"

"Oh," Ce'Nedra said with a catch in her voice He was astonished to see tears in her eyes

"What's theat her eyes with a wispy scrap of a handkerchief "What did she say then?"

"She said that she hadn't had time to work up a suitable answer, so I told her just to say 'yes' "

"And?"

"She said, 'I will have thee, Sir Mandorallen -with all oing onceeyes "That's just lovely"

"If you say so," he said "It seemed a little drawn-out to hed a little forlornly "I never got a formal proposal," she said

"You nantly "Don't you remember all that ceremony when you and the Tolnedran A, Garion," she re curls "I presented myself before your throne and asked you if you would consent to take reed, and that's all there was to it You never once asked ht back "I ot married, anyway, it doesn't really matter all that ht that look "Is it really that important, Ce'Nedra?" he asked her

"Yes, Garion It is"

He sighed "All right then I guess I'd better do it"

"Do what?"

"Propose Will you ave her a long, steady look She was, he had to adreen dress, all frilly and touched here and there with lace, and she sat rather pri pouty and discontented He arose froantly to his knees He took her sly into her face, trying to match the look of fatuous adoration that Mandorallen had worn

"Will her Ihness consent to have me as her husband?" he asked her "I can offer little besides an honest, loving heart and boundless devotion"

"Are youfun of me?" she asked suspiciously

"No" he said "You wanted a forave you one Well?"