“Can’t be done; I ought to be hanged!”
“Well, suppose we go and get lunch. I want a cup of coffee and a ham sandwich.”
They found it near by, at a marble counter, and presently took up their problem with renewed courage.
“Of course, we can’t stay here unmarried. If we don’t find a way before five-twenty—we must go back—and father will probably take me East by the next train.”
“And quite right. I wouldn’t let my daughter marry a blithering idiot who could get her into a scrape like this.”
“I shouldn’t mind father’s rage, but I should hate his crowing. I can’t bear to be beaten like this, but of course, if you don’t try to think, we might as well go back to the station.”
“But what can thinking do against a set of darn fool state laws?” he burst out. “If I had only had the sense to set up a guardian—” He broke off at her gasp of excitement. Her eyes were fixed on space, big with a growing idea, for a breathless moment; then she turned to him radiant, both fists clenched on the counter.
“Ralph, I’ll adopt you! Anybody of age can adopt anybody who isn’t. Then I will give my consent and there we are!”
He stared at her speechlessly; then he hid his face in his hands and gave way to wild laughter.
“Have you anything against it?”