I gave him a rousing hand-shake, and wiped away a stray bit of moisture from my cheek.
“May I tell Bessie?” were my first words when I found my tongue.
“Why not? There will be no long engagement in this case. The knot shall be tied as soon as possible.”
The announcement I made to my little wife the following morning was not entirely unexpected, yet it filled her with delight. Miss Van was the woman of all others that Bessie wished to have George marry. The arrangement was, therefore, completely to her satisfaction, and she beamed upon the happy George with true sisterly affection.
What effect would the news have upon Mrs. Pinkerton? I asked myself. I had not long to wait for an answer, for it was at the breakfast-table that George fired the shot.
“Mother,” said the bold youth, “I’m going to be married.”
His mother abruptly stopped stirring her coffee, and her spine visibly stiffened, but she said nothing.
“The event will occur without delay. Of course it is useless to inform you who is the—”
“Quite useless,” Mrs. Pinkerton broke in; “my wishes in the matter are not of the slightest consequence to you.”
“On the contrary. Now, look here; don’t be so infernally quick to anticipate my wilfulness. I want to conform to your wishes if I can. Que faire?”