Part 16 (2/2)
It was, indeed, a sweeping promise, one she could scarcely have kept.
”There are other ways by which Miss f.a.n.n.y Glen might disappear,” said Beauregard, gravely.
”How, sir?”
”You might change your name-again!”
”Change my name?”
”Yes. You might become-Mrs. Rhett Sempland, let us say!”
”O-o-oh!” cried the girl, blus.h.i.+ng furiously and drawing away from her lover's side.
”Quite so,” answered the general with deep gravity, too deep not to be suspicious, while Sempland's heart leaped with happiness. This was the meaning of the general's little play, then?
”Proceedings which would have to be inst.i.tuted against f.a.n.n.y Glen could then be allowed to drop,” continued Beauregard, enjoying the situation immensely. ”Is not that a solution, gentlemen?” he asked, throwing back his head and laughing cheerfully at the pleasant ending of the little comedy he had planned, which pleased the small audience hugely.
”That is the happiest of all solutions, sir,” said Sempland, taking f.a.n.n.y Glen's hands.
”I won't be married simply to save my life,” said the girl.
”Of course not,” said the general. ”Yet either you must be court-martialled or Mr. Sempland will be.”
”I-I might do it-to save-his life, sir,” she said, blus.h.i.+ng furiously again.
”However it is done-” said Sempland, ”however it may be brought about, it satisfies me completely.”
”'If 'twere done when 'tis done, 'twere well 'twere done quickly,'” quoted the general with striking appositeness, greatly delighted at the outcome of the affair.
”I agree with you entirely, sir,” returned Sempland, smiling-it was the part of wisdom for a captain to agree with a general always, and the way of prudence was the path of pleasure in this instance.
”Captain Sempland,” said Beauregard, ”your orders need not be carried out until to-morrow. There will be time enough before that time for a wedding, in which, in the absence of her father, I promise myself the pleasure of giving away the bride. Now, gentlemen, we will leave the-ah-two culprits to talk it over for a few moments. Let me know your decision, Miss Glen, as soon as may be, that I may decide whether to a.s.semble or dissolve the court. And rest a.s.sured the happenings of last night and this morning, so far as they concern Miss Glen, are not to be spoken outside this room by any one. Good morning.”
”f.a.n.n.y Glen,” said Sempland, when they were alone once more, ”are you marrying me to save yourself?”
She shook her head.
”Rhett Sempland, are you marrying me,” she asked in return, ”to save yourself?”
”I am marrying you, you little darling, as you very well know, because I love you.”
”And that is my reason, too,” said f.a.n.n.y Glen.
”f.a.n.n.y Glen,” he said imperiously, ”come here!”
And to him she came with astonis.h.i.+ng meekness.
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