"Not much, when we remember what put them in that shape!" declared Murray, in a tone of great satisfaction; and his father gave an emphatic assent.
"What do you think 's going to happen now?" cried Nancy, rushing out upon Peter's porch, a week later.
"Give it up. But nothing can surprise me, after recent events," replied Peter, removing his gaze for a moment from the morning newspaper pinned up in front of him to the excited face of his sister, but looking immediately back again at the absorbing column of business news he had been with some difficulty perusing. His hands had been slow in recovering from the severe injuries they had received.
"This will. Somebody's going to be married."
"Remarkable. But such events have occurred before in the history of nations," replied her brother, abstractedly.
"Not at the Townsend house, for Murray married Jane over here. Ah, ha! I thought you 'd give me your undivided attention at last," crowed Nancy, triumphantly.
Peter did his best to look unconcerned, but his heart had begun to thump quite suddenly and disconcertingly. He waited. He forgot the newspaper.
"Have n't you noticed how devoted Brant Hille has been for the last year?" Nancy demanded.
"No."
"Then you 've been blind."