“—About my aunt,” he resumed, the faint grin again apparent; “when she mentioned you I said, ‘Oh, by the way, I’m marrying Eris in June. I meant to mention it——’
“Dearest, the extraordinary face my aunt made at me stopped me.
“I think she was too astounded to understand whether she was pleased or not. You see she had got me all wrong, dear. I wasn’t the sort she believed.
“One thing was rather extraordinary. Did you suppose my aunt could swear? Well, she can. She swore at me for ten minutes, threatening dire things if I philandered with the granddaughter of Jeanne d’Espremont——”
“Barry!”
“Well, she did. And when finally it filtered through her skull that I was semi-decent, she became very much excited.... You’ve got to have a very grand church wedding, Eris. Do you mind?”
“Darling! I’d adore it!”
“Well, for heaven’s sake—Well, I’m glad you feel that way. Men usually don’t, you know.... But it’s all right——”
“Oh, Barry!” she said in ecstasy, clasping her white hands as unconscious of dramatic effect as when she pleaded with Mr. Quiss on Whitewater Brook.
He said: “My aunt’s a snob. Here’s the announcement she sent out yesterday afternoon——”