Dick Gilder released his wife from his arms and smiled the beatific smile of the newly-wed.
“Why not?” he demanded, with a smile, a smile calm, triumphant, masterful.
“Agnes!”... It was the sole pretext to which Mary could turn for a momentary relief.
The bridegroom faced about, and perceived Agnes, who stood closely watching the meeting between husband and wife. He made an excellent formal bow of the sort that one learns only abroad, and spoke quietly.
“I beg your pardon, Miss Lynch, but”—a smile of perfect happiness shone on his face—“you could hardly expect me to see any one but Mary under the circumstances. Could you?”
Aggie strove to rise to this emergency, and again took on her best manner, speaking rather coldly.
“Under what circumstances?” she inquired.
The young man exclaimed joyously.
“Why, we were married this morning.”
Aggie accepted the news with fitting excitement.