“I want to ask you a question,” she told him.
Thereupon Murray made heroic efforts to escape before she could find a suitable opportunity, but she beckoned him back whenever he got near the door.
“Mama,” she said finally, for this happened during the wedding reception, and her mother stood near her, “I wish you would take charge of Mr. Murray and see that he doesn’t run away. I have something very important to say to him before Ralph and I leave.”
Thus the unhappy Murray was held until the bride and groom were ready to depart, when the bride finally succeeded in getting him alone for a minute.
“I wanted to ask you, as a particular favor to me,” she said appealingly, “to let Ralph live a little while—that is, if your doctor won’t make too big a row about it.”
Then she laughed merrily. There could be no doubt at all that Mrs. Ralph Tucker refused absolutely to worry about the health of Mr. Ralph Tucker; she had simply put the doctor down as an ignoramus. And Mr. Ralph Tucker’s appearance certainly was not that of a man in poor physical condition. However, Murray knew how deceptive appearances may be, and, while no physician is infallible, it is necessary to rely on their judgment. Nor was it a joking matter, in his opinion. He was glad that the young people could look at the future without misgivings, but a really serious matter ought not to be treated so lightly.
It was about a week later that a note came to Murray from Mrs. Tucker.
“So grateful to you for sparing Ralph so long,” it read.
Murray crumpled it up and, with some rather warm remarks, threw it in the waste-basket.
“Why did I relieve Ross of his disagreeable task?” he grumbled.