Something had happened to the town when I left Betty's house. The hard pavements were gone, and instead of them were beautiful silvery clouds. The ordinary air had changed into exhilarating ether. I wanted to sing; I wanted to tell people of my good fortune; but everybody must have known it to have looked at me. I kept saying to myself, "I'm engaged to be married! I'm engaged to be married!" When the teams went by they went "Click clackety click!—click clackety click!—I'm engaged to be married!—I'm engaged to be married!"
Mother had gone to bed when I got home, but I woke her up and told her the good news. I expected her to be surprised, but she wasn't a bit. All she said was: "Well, everybody knew it but you!"
I suppose it is because Love is blind that I didn't know. I told mother that we were going to be married on the 19th of June.
"Do you think it wise to get married so soon?"
"Yes, indeed," I said, "I need the help of a woman like Betty in my business. You see, mother, her business experience and her—"
Mother kissed me on the lips and said:
"Don't bother to think up any excuses—Love itself is sufficient excuse for that."
I saw some tears in mother's eyes. I put my arm around her waist and said:
"You are happy, aren't you, mother, dear?"
She kissed me again and pushed me from her, and hurried to her room. When she got to the door she turned around and said, "God bless you, my boy."