Part 24 (1/2)
”I thought so.”
”He was real mean to me--as sarcastic as he could be.”
”Rich fathers are usually indignant when their daughters wish to marry poor men. He can have no other objection to me.”
”Have you any money saved up, Harry?”
”Yes, I've got two thousand dollars in the bank to furnish our flat with.”
”We shall have to go to a justice of the peace, for father will not let me be married at home. Oh, if Aunt Ella were here.”
”Where is she?”
”In England. She's the wife of a baronet, and he is rich and so is Aunt Ella.”
”Maude, let's elope and go to England for our honeymoon.”
Aunt Ella and Alice had been to Ketchley to make some purchases for young Quincy's wardrobe. As they entered the house a maid said that a young lady and gentleman were waiting to see them.
”Both of us?” queried Aunt Ella.
The maid replied: ”They said they wished to see Lady Fernborough and Mrs. Quincy Adams Sawyer.”
”I will see if baby is all right and join you in a few minutes,” said Alice.
Aunt Ella pa.s.sed her hat and wrap to the maid, and entered the drawing room.
”Maude Sawyer, what cloud did you drop from? Where did you come from?
Excuse me,” said Aunt Ella as she espied Maude's companion, who had kept in the background.
”This is my husband, Mr. Harry Merry. We're just from London. We've been doing the town. What a big noisy place.”
Alice came in and the introduction was repeated.
”Well, Maude,” said Aunt Ella, ”we're delighted to see you and your husband, but your arrival was so unexpected that you must pardon my evidences of surprise.”
”They're very excusable,” said Maude. ”I can hardly realize, myself, that we are here. You and Alice are wondering what brought us, and you are ent.i.tled to an explanation. We just eloped because father would not give his consent.”
The presence of Mr. Merry made the situation an awkward one, but Aunt Ella was a woman with opinions and was not afraid to express them. So she said:
”I suppose your father will disinherit you. I hope that will not mar your future happiness.”
”I don't think it will. Harry has a good position, we've got some money in the bank, and we're going to have a nice little flat in Cambridge or Roxbury. I want to see my little nephew, Quincy's boy, and then we are going right back to London.”
”Come with me,” said Alice, ”and see the baby, but Aunt Ella and I will never consent to your leaving us so soon. You must pay us a long visit.”
”I would,” replied Maude, ”but for one thing father said to me. We will stay over night, for I have so much to tell both of you.”
”Come to the library,” said Aunt Ella. ”I will introduce your husband to Sir Stuart, and then we will go to the nursery where we can talk as long as we wish.”