“That is the surprising thing,” said Diana in wonder. “He was meekness itself—I never saw a man so quickly accept a situation as he did.”
“And the perfectly good aunt?”
Diana shrugged.
“She was difficult. That is natural, being a woman. But she is tame now. I called her Aunt Lizzie to save a scandal. But”—her voice sank—“they’re not married!”
Bobbie tried hard to look surprised.
“Aren’t they?”
Diana shook her head. There was some good Puritan blood in the Fords. Bobbie never received evidence of its presence without a little shock of surprise.
“No! Isn’t it terrible? They’re not married. They are not even engaged: I could tell that by the way she orders him about. She does so with the air of a woman who has nothing to lose. But I’m determined on one thing. I thought it out before I went to bed. He shall marry her before he leaves this house! She has been hopelessly compromised. This adventure shall have one good result.”
Bobbie was not enthusiastic.
“I shouldn’t meddle if I were you,” he said, but made no impression on her.