The Code of the Woosters

by P.G. Wodehouse

Bertie, my engagement to Augustus is at an end.’ ‘Yes.’ ‘You knew?’ ‘Oh, rather. He told me.’ ‘Then you know why I asked you to come here. I wanted to say—’ ‘Yes.’ ‘That I am willing—’ ‘Yes.’ ‘To make you happy.’ She appeared to be held up for a moment by a slight return of the old tonsil trouble, but after another brace of gulps she got it out. ‘I will be your wife, Bertie.’ I suppose that after this most chaps would have thought it scarcely worthwhile to struggle against the inev., but I had a dash at it. With such vital issues at stake, one would have felt a chump if one had left any stone unturned. ‘Awfully decent of you,’ I said civilly. ‘Deeply sensible of the honour, and what not. But have you thought? Have you reflected? Don’t you feel you’re being a bit rough on poor old Gussie?’