“Thank you,” said Mr. Robles, pressing her hand.
“Then I am not to ask why you are leaving us tonight?” enquired Mrs. Darlington.
“Please not. I just came to you, as I have many times done before, to speak the little word—Adios. And it has always been spoken brightly between us, my dear friend. For have I not returned again and again like the proverbial bad penny?” he continued with a smile.
“And so it will be yet again, I hope,” she replied. “Bad pennies of your kind, Mr. Robles, are better than minted gold. And you must think of the young people. Engagements should not be too long. Everything is settled so far as Dick and Merle are concerned—with your full approval?”
“With my fullest approval, and to my great joy and peace of mind.”
“Well, and you know, too, that it is just the same old story as regards Chester Munson and my little girl.”
“Munson has so informed me. He wanted my congratulations on his good fortune. Chester Munson is certainly a fine fellow, and Grace could have made no better choice for the bestowal of her love. Again I am filled with happiness at the turn events have taken.”
“But if there are to be wedding bells for four, their peal will not be so joyous if you are absent, my dear Mr. Robles.”
“I shall try to be present,” he replied, with a little wistful smile. “Who knows? Wouldn’t it be fine if the wedding bells were to ring in Spain?”
“No, no, my friend. You forget that all four are young Americans. The honeymoons in Spain, if you like. But the weddings in California, please.”