"But, Jack, you grow by feet, not by inches," said Betty, putting him a little away from her that she might see him more distinctly. "Father will feel quite shy of you."
"More than I'll be of him, then. Do you see he's won a medal for his last invention, Aunt Betty? Isn't he glorious? The boys at school chaff me because they say I'm always boasting about father, and I tell them they would boast too if they had a father like him to boast about. Why, there's Eva, waiting at the gate. I'll just run on and have a word with her."
Then Tom and Betty were left alone, and took a long look into each other's eyes.
"Well, darling! Are you ready for me?"
"Quite ready. Have I not said so often enough."
"And you will marry me any day I like?"
"Yes, mother knows we both wish it to be as quiet as possible, to have no splash breakfast, not even a wedding cake."
"Then I've settled it," said Tom joyously. "I saw the Bishop at Launceston and he's kind enough to express a wish to perform the Service. The Confirmation is to be quite early in the morning of the twenty-first and if you could fix the wedding to take place immediately after it, it would be delightful. It's short notice, but will it suit you, my darling? The time has dragged just lately Your face, your dear face, has come between me and my work. We've been pretty patient, I think. Will your mother object?"
"The time will suit me, and I don't think mother will object," said Betty, slipping her hand into his. "She is prepared for us to sail about the end of the year. She knows the parting is quite close; sometimes I think the strain tells on her. It will be better for her when it's over. We needn't tell anyone, Tom. We'll be married and slip away somewhere."
"To Melbourne," said Tom, "or we'll keep our Christmas at Launceston and your luggage can follow us there."