He rose, and grasped Molly's hand so firmly that she winced under his pressure.
"And why was this not done years ago?" he asked. "Why keep an unfortunate poor man constantly on the verge of suicide?"
"I was getting over Desmond," replied Molly! "It takes a girl a long time to recover from a heart affection, and I was trying him to learn if he was constant."
"Well, better late than never. I wish you and Cairns joy. Have you mastered housekeeping yet?"
"There you are!" cried Molly triumphantly. "How should I marry and never know how to look after the man's house? But I am getting on now, and I don't expect to be much better this side of the grave, so when he came with his monthly 'Will you?' I just dropped into his arms, and that ended it."
"And what did Cairns do under those distressing circumstances?"
"He didn't know exactly what to do until I told him. Then he did it fairly well for an amateur."
"And when do you intend to be married?" asked Kathleen.
"Next week, to be sure," answered Molly without hesitation.