Mrs. Marvel rose, all of a tremble, and laid her hand upon Ellen's head, and kissed the young lovers. But Mr. Marvel behaved quite differently. He cast one quick satisfied look at the two youngsters; and then turned from them, and continued smoking as if nothing unusual had occurred.
"Well, father?" exclaimed Joshua, rather surprised at his father's silence.
"Well, Josh!" replied Mr. Marvel.
"Do you see this?" asked Joshua, with his arm round Ellen's waist.
Ellen, blushing rosy red, looked shyly at Mr. Marvel; but he looked stolidly at her in return.
"Yes; I see it, Josh," said Mr. Marvel, without any show of emotion.
"And what do you say to it?"
"What do I say to it, Josh?" replied Mr. Marvel with dignity. "Well, I believe I'm your father; and, as such, I think you should ask me if I was agreeable. I thought it proper to ask my father, Josh. It isn't because I'm a wood-turner"--
"No, no, father," interrupted Joshua; "I made a mistake. Ellen and I thought"--
"Ellen and you thought," repeated Mr. Marvel.