Part 60 (2/2)
”Don't you know whether you are willing or not?”
”Yes, I know that.”
”Aren't you well enough acquainted with me? Haven't you proved me long enough?”
”O, John,” her eyes filling with tears.
”What else can you mean by 'ready'?”
She looked down at her dress; a gray flannel--an iron gray flannel--a gray flannel and linen collar and cuffs to be married in. But was it not befitting her gray locks?
”John, look at me!”
”I am looking at you.”
”What do you see?”
”You were never so lovely in your life.”
”You were never so obstinate in your life.”
”I never had such a good right before. Now listen to reason. You say this house is to be sold; and the furniture, for future housekeeping, is to be packed and stored; that you and Prue are to sail for Havre the first steamer in July; and who beside your husband is to attend to this, and to get you on board the steamer in time?”
”But, John!” laying her hand in expostulation upon his arm.
”But, Prudence!” he laughed. ”Is Deborah to go with us? Shall we need her in our Italian palace, or are we to dwell amid ruins?”
”Nothing else would make her old heart so glad.”
”Marjorie and Mrs. Kemlo expect to go home to-morrow.”
”Yes.”
”Don't you want Marjorie to stay and help you?”
”With such a valiant husband at the front! I suspect you mean to create emergencies simply to help me out of them.”
”I'm creating one now; and all I want you to do is to be helped out--or in.”
”But, John, I must go in and fix my hair.”
”Your hair looks as usual.”
”But I don't want it to look as usual. Do you want the bride to forget her attire and her ornaments?”
A blue figure with curls flying and arms outstretched was flying down towards them from the upper end of the path.
”O, Aunt Prue! Mr. March has come over--without Mrs. March, and he asked for you. I told him Uncle John had come home, and he smiled, and said he could not get along without him.”
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