"I am quite serious," said Renier. "It is my friend who wants to get married."
"And you don't?"
Renier stammered ineffectually.
"Then," said the stout young man, with a glance at Lee (of the highest admiration), "you're a gol-darn fool."
And forthwith he was so vulgar as to burst into a sudden snatch of song:
"Old man Rule was a gol-darn fool,
For he couldn't see the water in the gol-darn pool!"
At the finish of this improvisation the dreadfully confused Minnie went, "Tee-hee!"
And, horror of horrors, that charming boylike companion, Lee Darling, behind whom were well-bred generations, also went suddenly, "Tee-hee."
"Licenses," said the stout young man, "are applied for in room Five. After you, sir; after you, miss."