"Hurrah, Sylvan! Hurrah, old boy! Back again! Why didn't you write or telegraph? How do you do, Cora! Ah! when will you get your roses back, my dear? And how is his Majesty? Why is he not with you? Where did you leave him?" demanded Mr. Clarence in a gale of high spirits at greeting his nephew and niece again.
"He is among the Thousand Islands somewhere with his bride," answered Cora.
"His—what?" inquired Mr. Clarence, with a puzzled air.
"His wife," said Cora.
"His wife? What on earth are you talking about, Cora? You could not have understood my question. I asked you where my father was!" said the bewildered Mr. Clarence.
"And I told you that he is on his wedding trip with his bride, among the Thousand Islands," replied Cora.
Mr. Clarence turned in a helpless manner.
"Sylvan," he said, "tell me what she means, will you?"
"Why, just what she says. Our grandfather and grandmother are on the St. Lawrence, but will be home on the first of July," Sylvan explained.
But Mr. Clarence looked from the brother to the sister and back again in the utmost perplexity.