Charley obeyed reluctantly, and beckoning her to the door, said, in a whisper:
“You will have to prepare a room for me down here, Mrs. Cline, for I am determined to stay and nurse my lovely bride back to health.”
“That can be quickly done, sir. Her improvement is miraculous already, and will, no doubt, continue with due care. As to a room, I can make you comfortable, no doubt, but you will miss the grandeur of Bonair,” the woman answered, with a curtsey.
Charley answered, with a laugh:
“I may have to miss those grandeurs always, henceforward, Mrs. Cline, for if my father should be as angry as my sisters are he will probably disinherit me.”
“Ah, no fear of that I think, sir, and you his only son, the apple of his eye, as it were. And, dear me, sir, if he should be angry at you, why, what would he be at me and Sam for aiding and abetting your marriage? He would very likely turn us out of this place!” cried the woman uneasily, for her many years at Bonair had endeared the place to her heart.
“If he does I will find you another place as good, so don’t begin to worry yet. Let us look on the bright side as long as we can!” cried sanguine Charley.
And from that moment he began to live up to his creed, never uttering a word of apprehension as to the outcome of his marriage.
He had followed up his telegram to his father with a long explanatory letter in which he did full justice to the charms of his bride; but to neither one came any reply, although up at Bonair the sisters had received a speedy answer that read briefly:
“I am horrified, but do not see anything that I can do. Will leave at once in special car for home.”