“He means to marry me,” returned Mattie, smiling, in spite of her tears; and then Grace came forward, and took her in her arms.
“I am so glad, dear Mattie,” she whispered, soothingly. “Of course we none of us expected it; and we are all very much surprised. Oh, dear! how happy mother will be!”
“I tell you what,” exclaimed Archie, in great excitement, “I will take you down myself to Lowder Street, and see what she says. They will all be out of their senses with joy; and, upon my word, Mattie, I never was so pleased about anything in my life. He is a right-down good fellow, I am sure of that; and you are not such a bad little thing yourself, Mattie. There!”
CHAPTER XLIX.
MATTIE IN A NEW CHARACTER.
The family at Lowder Street were all gathered together when the travellers made their appearance. There was a general shout of delight when Archie’s face peered in at them from the dusky hall over Mattie’s shoulder. Mrs. Drummond’s thin face flushed with the unexpected pleasure.
“Oh, Archie! my dear boy, I never thought you would surprise us in this way!” she said, throwing down her work with tremulous hands. She kissed Mattie affectionately; but that dark glow of tenderness in her eyes was for Archie. In spite of her ordinary undemonstrativeness, she seldom spoke to him without that involuntary softening of her voice. However much she loved 357 her other children, her maternal passion was reserved for her first-born son.
“How naughty of you to steal a march on us in this manner!” she said, playfully. “We have only prepared a meat-tea for Mattie, because I knew she would not mind; but if you had telegraphed I would have had dinner ready for you, Archie.”