"Beth," said Julia, "we can't be just you and me. We must be man and wife. Our names will be Mr. and Mrs. Newbeginner. I'm John Newbeginner, and——"
"I'd rather be the man, because he's the head of the family and he doesn't work so hard. Besides, I don't want a little bit of a man like you. I'm the taller."
"Well, but I'm the elder, and the elder is always the man."
"All right, but you have to help about the house. You can't go away to business."
"Let's stay here all night, to-night."
Away they ran to beg permission.
The two mothers, however, seriously objected. Finally the young couple were pacified by Mrs. Newbeginner being allowed to spend the night with her spouse at the Gordon homestead which adjoined the Newbeginner mansion.
The next morning, Mrs. Newbeginner awakened at peep of day. She gave Mr. Newbeginner a poke and then jumped out of bed.
"Jul—John, I mean, it's time to get up and build the fire."
"Leave me alone," snapped Mr. Newbeginner in a truly masculine style.