"But we propose to make it orthodox as soon as possible. Marcia, brave girl, would have married me in the face of any staring audience. She might have had a younger and handsomer bridegroom, but she can hardly have a husband who will care more tenderly for her."
Laura is rather checked in her angry career. She dare not brave these steel-gray eyes.
"We are all very much surprised; at least I am, having heard no word or hint of it."
"We did keep our secret pretty well, I believe," and he glances fondly at Marcia.
"Well," replies Laura, rising, "I suppose the best wish of all is that you may not regret your step in haste."
"It was not so hasty as that," and he laughs, with the flavor of one who has won.
Laura makes her adieus coldly, feeling outgeneralled by his evident determination not to be put down.
"What are we to do?" she asks of madame, half an hour later. "This horrid reception staring us in the face! Of course people will go out of curiosity. Marcia always did delight in being talked about."
"But is her husband so horribly unpresentable?" and madame's beautiful eyes are filled with sympathy.
"Oh, you can present anything here in New York, that is the worst of it!" cries Laura, angrily. "That is why I like Newport. And Marcia is so utterly silly."