"Say, 'at the prospect of leaving Baby.'"
"Can't you take him?" said Jack. "There are crowds of youngsters of his age getting rosy and fat in the hills all the summer."
"I shouldn't feel safe about him. He'll be best with Grannie."
"Bravo!" cried Kitty. "Jack's got to go very soon, so we can all three go together." Jack's face showed intense appreciation.
"You don't mean to say you are thinking of marrying at once?"
"Why not?" from him.
"Of course not," said Kitty ruthlessly. "But as it is not good for you to travel alone in these exciting times, you must take me with you—engaged to Jack—and to be married when we have time to look around. Has anyone any objections?"
"You darling!" gasped Jack.
"Well, let's see what Mother has to say about it," said Joyce. "Meantime I shall pack a few things before getting to bed."
"Then you won't be so heartless as to turn us out. Come Jack, and let us talk it over"; and Jack, nothing loath, drew her on his knee in the one big chair by the window, and for some little time Joyce had ceased to exist for them. Neither seemed to mind the fact of her presence; it was sympathetic and that was quite enough, so they felt at liberty to continue to enjoy their mutual delight in the knowledge that they had become engaged.