"Ann! What?"
"'Tis true. The marble is placed in there, when the pot is being made—to keep in the heat, you understand. Richard always makes the coffee himself on hunting-trips, and—"
"Ann! Will you hush talking about coffee-pots? Tell us what you mean! Are you already engaged to Richard Chalmers?"
"Yes. Engaged!"
"Well, upon my word! And this is how the shy young creatures feel about the matter when the man's back is turned," Rufe said, starting up and pulling out my chair for me. "You ought to have your eyes cast down, and whisper the news with blushes and tears, you horribly modern young woman!"
But he patted my shoulder affectionately and said Chalmers always had been a lucky devil. Cousin Eunice stared at me a moment in silence.
"And you are very happy?" she asked.
"Yes. Very happy."
"Then I congratulate you both." But she did not come and kiss me, for which I was very thankful. I have a masculine dislike for scenes. It was for this reason that I sprung the news of the marble in the spout first.
She asked a few questions as to how it had come about, but, while she manifested no great enthusiasm, she was too humane to make any kill-joy reference to her request of me last night.