I have heard her remark that when the late Henry Clay observed “Give me liberty or give me death,” he was referring to marriage.
But Aggie had been correct. There was a bloom on dear Tish’s face never placed there by the benign hand of Nature. Had I seen Mr. Ostermaier, our minister, preaching a sermon in a silk hat I should not have felt more horrified. And our anxiety was not lessened by Tish’s first remark when she returned.
“I shall want you two as witnesses,” she said. “And I shall make just one remark now. I know your attitude on certain subjects, so I ask you simply to remember this: I believe we owe a duty to the nation, especially with regard to children.”
“Good heavens, Tish!” Aggie said, and turned a sort of greenish white. “A woman of your age——”
“What’s my age got to do with it?” Tish snapped. “I simply say——”
But just then the doorbell rang, and Hannah announced a gentleman.
It was a Mr. Stein.
Aggie has told me since that the thought of Tish marrying was as nothing to her then, compared with the belief that she was marrying out of the Presbyterian Church. And she knew the moment she saw him that Mr. Stein was not a Presbyterian. But as it developed and as all the world knows now, it was not a matter of marriage at all.
Mr. Stein was the well-known moving-picture producer.
While Aggie and I were endeavoring to readjust our ideas he sat down, and looked at Tish while rubbing his hands together.