When the pair were gone, Mr. Ely turned upon Mr. Ash with something that was very much like a snarl.
"I have to thank you for that."
"For what? What do you mean?"
"You know very well what I mean. For that clown's impertinence--great, lumbering buffoon!"
"Good gracious, Ely, you don't seem to be in the pleasantest of moods. What did I tell him? I only said you were engaged. What harm is there in that? I don't know what good you expect to come from keeping it hidden from the world."
Mr. Ely turned the matter over in his mind. He gnashed his teeth, not figuratively, but very literally indeed.
"By George, I'll make her marry me, or I'll know the reason why!"
"One way to that desirable consummation is to compromise the lady's name. Advertise the fact that she has promised to be your wife."
"If I thought that, I'd stick it up on every dead wall in town."
"Let's try milder means at first. Leave more vigorous measures to a little later on. Unless I'm much mistaken, you'll find the milder means will serve. There's a little misunderstanding, that is all."