"Come out, Minnie!" he called. "Come out and hear the good news!"
"Hear!" I said, "I've seen all the news I want."
"Gracious!" Miss Patty said, and buried her head again. But he had reached the shameless stage; a man who is really in love always seems to get to that point sooner or later. He stooped and kissed the back of her neck, and if his hand shook when he pushed in one of her shell hairpins it was excitement and not fright.
"I hardly realize it, Minnie," he said. "I don't deserve her for a minute."
"Certainly not," I said.
"He does." Miss Patty's voice smothered. Then she got up and came over to me.
"There is going to be an awful fuss, Minnie," she said. "Think of Aunt Honoria—and Oskar!"
"Let them fuss!" I said grandly. "If the worst comes, you can spend your honeymoon in the shelter-house. I'm so used to carrying meals there now that it's second nature."
And at that they both made for me, and as Mr. Pierce kissed me Doctor Barnes opened the door. He stood for a moment, looking queer and wild, and then he slammed the door and we heard him stamping down the steps.
Mr. Pierce had to bring him back.