"Oh! it is so sudden; perhaps we'd better wait a little while."
"With your permission, not an hour. You belong to me, now—see, let me put this solitaire diamond on your finger. It was my mother's ring. By that token I simply desire to warn all men 'hands off.' Tell me, am I right, Ruth?"
"Yes; I can offer no objection. Do as you think best, doctor."
This is a beautiful beginning. Clouds will be rare in their future if they keep on in this way.
So they once more go back to the hotel, and find Aunt Gwen on the lookout, her kindly face wearing an anxious expression that becomes a quizzical one when she sees John smile.
"Your blessing, Aunt Gwen," he says.
"My what?"
"Oh! it's all settled. Ruth has promised to be my wife," continues John, looking very happy.
"The dickens she has!" and Philander pushes into view from behind the voluminous skirts of his better half. "What business has she to accept any one without consulting her doting—"
"Philander!"