“I think so.”
“Well I’ll be best man. Ah, Mavis”—as she appeared—“there is to be no formality now, you know. You are going to marry one of the best, and you’ve got to like me too.”
Mavis bent down and kissed his cheek. “There! Alan, see how cousinly I can be,” said she laughingly. “Now it’s time you both went to bed—you’ve been up quite long enough for one day.”
That night before the lights were extinguished she told them the story of the Great War. “Where have you been?” she asked in bewilderment. “Why every one in the world knows of it. It’s been horrible—terrible; white fighting against white; white employing black to help them. Every nation in the world suffered in one way or another.”
“I know it sounds improbable, dear, but neither Alan nor I knew the long talked of war with Germany had really come to pass until you spoke of it to-day. Don’t ask any questions—just trust me.”
“It’s all very mysterious and strange,” said she ruefully. “But I will possess my soul in patience.”
As soon as he was able, Alan sent one magnificent diamond and half a dozen emeralds to Messrs. Frimpton, Long and Beauchamp and received in return banknotes to the value of five thousand pounds. The boys had also chosen some diamonds for Mavis, and had had them set into an engagement ring for the woman Desmond loved.
Already they were well enough to leave the hospital, but as Walla Balla was only a very small mining township, there was no accommodation for visitors, so the cousins remained at the hospital as paying guests.
One day, late in July, a very pretty wedding took place. The bride was dressed in her nurse’s uniform and the bridegroom and best man were arrayed in unconventional white duck. The ceremony was performed by the local clergyman, and there was a big spread afterwards at the hospital, to which everybody in the township had been invited.
Alan felt rather sad as he stood waiting on the platform for the train to come in that would carry off the happy pair to their honeymoon. No woman had ever entered his life. His great ideal was a dream still; and he wondered if the time had passed for her ever to materialize.