XVIII: BETROTHAL
How he escaped from the pandemonium George never knew, but his first clear recollection after it was of being borne swiftly through the streets of Bondon with Arabella in his arms, she weeping and telling him of the hard and vile usage she had been put to on the Fatter ship, for the Admiral was a horrid man. She told him how she had at last been taken to the Fatterland and there, by her father’s influence—(for her father also had been marvelously delivered from an untimely end)—released and sent, first-class at the expense of the Fatter Government, home to Fatland, and how she had there resumed her old life of district visiting and tea parties and diocesan conferences and rescuing white slaves and had been content in it until she had seen him, when all her old love had sprung once more into flame and she would never, never desert him more. George wept also and protested that he would never leave her side.
She took him to her home, and her father, who had been prevented by indisposition from attending the meeting, blessed him and made him welcome.
It was very late and George drew Arabella to his side and said he would send for his things.
“Things!” said the Bishop.
“We love each other,” replied George.
“Do you propose to marry this man?” asked the Bishop.
Arabella blushed and explained to George that he must go away until they were married, and the Bishop revealed the meaning of the word.
“But why?” asked George.
“It is so ordained,” said the Bishop, and George was exasperated.
“I love Arabella,” he cried. “What more do you want? And what on earth has it got to do with you or anybody else? I love Arabella, and my love has survived shipwreck, starvation, explosion, battle, murder, and the public festivities of Fatland....”
With extraordinary cynicism the Bishop replied:
“That may be. But it is doubtful if it will survive marriage; therefore marriage is necessary.”
This illogical argument silenced George. The Bishop finally gave his consent and the marriage was arranged to take place in a month’s time, and the announcement of the betrothal was sent to the only remaining morning newspaper.