“What did he say? How could you put it in a telegram?”
“Red consoles marooned sweet post delayed.”
“Dear me! What gibberish is that?”
“It's from our private code. It means, 'Going to marry your daughter if she is willing. With your consent, I hope.'”
“And he answered? I'll take the English version, please.”
“'Consent refused. No fortune hunters need apply.' That is not a direct quotation, but it conveys his meaning accurately enough.”
“So I'm to be cut off with a shilling.” Her eyes bubbled with delight.
“I reckon so. Of course I had to come back at him.”
“How, may I ask?” She was vastly amused at this novel correspondence.
“Oh, I merely said in substance that I was glad to hear it because you couldn't think now I wanted to marry you for your money. I added that if things came my way we would send him cards later. One doesn't like to slang one's wife's father, so I drew it mild.”