Both the young people looked at the tall, grim old Amazon with great affection, as they recognized how much they owed her. Gwen particularly loved her, as she had brought common-sense to bear on the estrangement after the fatal interview in the churchyard with Madame Alpenny. But that Mrs. Perage had acted so vigorously, Gwen saw plainly enough that she and Owain might never have entirely understood one another. Now they did, especially since the nine days' nursing had drawn them together more rapidly. Never did a couple arrange to enter into the bonds of matrimony with such an excellent knowledge of each other's character. Mrs. Perage guessed what was passing in the girl's mind and nodded approvingly.
"Trouble brings people together very quickly," she said briskly. "Time is nothing and opportunity is everything. Owain has saved your life; carefully nursed him back to health, so you comprehend one another a thousand times better than if you had dawdled through a ten years' courtship. You are both decent, also, my dears; quite different to your fathers. It's the mothers' blood that tells, I expect. What do you say, Hench?"
"Oh, don't call him Hench," said Gwen, with a shudder. "Let us leave that false name behind with all the other trouble."
"Very good. What do you say, Evans?"
"I agree with you, Mrs. Perage. Gwen and I will get on capitally."
"You had better!" she threatened. "If I catch you beating her it's me you'll have to reckon with. Ha!" She glanced out of the window. "Here's Jim, the first of the fragments come to be swept into the dustbin of oblivion."
"I hope not," said Owain, laughing. "I wish Jim to remain my very good friend and be my best man."
"Of course he will be. And I will be the bridesmaid if Gwen is sensible enough to ask me."
"You shall do whatever you like at the wedding," said Gwen, also laughing, for she felt uncommonly happy.
"And afterwards also, my dear. I am fond of my own way; it's a great fault of mine. Jim,"--Vane entered as she spoke,--"here you are at last. There! I'm not fond of kisses. Go and talk to Evans yonder, and ask him if you can kiss Gwen."