... Mrs. Moore sat gazing into the glowing grate.
"Well, truants, where have you been all this time? I—" She stopped suddenly as she saw Nettie's blushes, and the happy look on Guy's face.
"Mother, Nettie has made me the happiest man in existence, by consenting to be my wife. And we have come to ask your blessing."
"It is heartily given, my dear children. Nothing could give me more pleasure than to see you two happily married," said she, kissing them. "By the way, how did you young people happen to make this wonderful discovery?"
"Well, mother, I have had some serious thoughts about the matter ever since I surprised you and Nettie last September, but I never dared to put my thoughts into words till to-day."
"I don't remember that you surprised Nettie. She was out in the orchard, she told me, when you arrived."
"Yes, I believe I remember finding her in the orchard," and he gave a ludicrous description of their first meeting.
"That accounts for Nettie's blushes when I introduced you that day. You won't go west now, will you, Guy?"
"I shall have to, mother; but I'll sell out at the first opportunity. In the meantime I think we had better notify aunt Adams that she is doomed to have a son-in-law."
"I have thought of an excellent plan," said Nettie. "Let's all go east for the holidays. Only, for goodness' sake, don't tell Edith and Maud about my exploits in the apple tree. They would be so shocked at my lack of dignity."