Part 12 (1/2)

”Do you know,” he added, with a still nearer approach to embarra.s.sment in his manner, and something like a blush on his usually calm face, ”I have asked her to become Mrs. Desmond.”

”The devil you have!” was my thought as astonishment fairly overcame me. I didn't say it, though, but it was my turn to be embarra.s.sed, and I hardly knew what to say.

Having got it out, Mr. Desmond fairly recovered his equanimity. ”Yes,”

he said, ”I put the idea away from me for a long time, but it would persist in growing upon me, and I finally concluded that perhaps it might contribute to the happiness of _all_ parties, so I have taken the plunge. I hope you approve of it,” he added, with a queer twinkle in his eye.

”With all my heart, sir,” I said earnestly; ”and I am sure it will be as pleasing as it is surprising to us all.”

Throughout that afternoon I was restless, and eager to get home to tell Bessie the wonderful news. It was the longest afternoon I ever saw, but at length it pa.s.sed and I hurried home. As Bessie met me at the door I said eagerly, ”I've got a surprise for you, deary.”

Now I noticed for the first time that she was all smiles and full of something that she was eager to surprise me with. Simultaneously each recognized that the other had the secret already. Of course; what a fool I was! Her mother naturally enough would tell her while Mr. Desmond broke the matter to me.

”Isn't it jolly?” I said.

”Why, Charlie, are you then so anxious to get rid of poor, dear mamma?”

she said, half reproachfully and half teasingly.

”Oh, no, of course not, but it is really nice for all of us, isn't it now? She won't be far off, you know; we shall have our little home all to ourselves, and Mr. Desmond will be a sort of guardian for us. And as I said before, I think it is jolly.”

”Well, I must confess I do not altogether like the idea of mamma marrying again, and I shall miss her very much, after all.”