Jermyn began with military directness by saying:
"Miss Trewman, may I ask one of my oldest friends to congratulate me?"
"Yes," Kate replied, "if you will let her include me in the congratulations."
"Oh, you dear people!" exclaimed Trif. "There's nothing that I would rather have heard."
"You don't think it shockingly sudden?" asked Kate.
"Not I—considering what either of you might have missed by delay."
"I assure you," said Kate, "that not a word would have been said about it for months—it all came so suddenly—if it hadn't been for Trixy."
"Where is that child?" asked Jermyn, rising in alarm and looking in every direction.
"She's looking at her dolls," Trif replied. "No, she isn't. Dear me! I arranged those dolls for her on a chair not ten minutes ago."
"Not ten minutes ago?" asked Jermyn dreamily.