Part 14 (2/2)
”What!” shouted Bunny, fairly jumping to his feet.
Mrs. Bunny burst out laughing. ”You old goose, wait till they come in, and you'll hear more.”
”On the Lord's day, too!” said Bunny, holding up his hands. ”And what were you doing in the garden? Have you learned your chapter?”
Eddy shuffled from one leg to the other. ”It was very long,” he protested with a whimper.
”I'll long you--come with me,” and Bunny took Eddy's right ear between the thumb and forefinger of his left hand.
Eddy set up a dolorous howling, and Mrs. Bunny interposed. ”Remember it's Sunday, Tom,” she said.
”Oh--here you are,” she added, as Galbraith and Halsa came into the room. Eddy seized his opportunity, and made a run for it.
Galbraith came forward at once, leading Halsa by the hand.
”Mr. Bunny,” he said, ”I have asked Halsa to be my wife, and she has said----”
”Yes--I knew she would,” and Mrs. Bunny kissed Halsa, who blushed and trembled very much.
Mr. Bunny shook hands alternately with Halsa and Galbraith.
”I am very glad,” he said. ”I didn't think of this; but I am very glad.”
After a while Galbraith left. It was agreed that the engagement should be given out at the next meeting of the Council of the Tabernacle, which was to be held in a few days.
”But Eddy knows all about it,” said Mrs. Bunny, and Halsa blushed furiously, while Galbraith looked helplessly around.
”I don't think Eddy will say much after I have spoken to him,” said Bunny; ”and, Galbraith, don't forget that you dine here to-night.”
They all walked home after the evening service, and dined quietly and happily together. When the time came for Galbraith to go, Halsa walked with him to the gate. They lingered for a moment there together.
”Good-night, John.” She raised her face to his, and he kissed her softly.
”You do not regret?” asked Galbraith, and for answer Halsa kissed him of her own accord. He turned at last, and vanished into the gloom.
That night when they retired to rest, and Bunny and his wife had read a chapter of the big leather-covered Bible, which lay on a small table in their bedroom, Mrs. Bunny turned to her husband.
”Tom,” she said, ”what if all this should end badly? I am frightened now.”
”Why should it end badly?” and Bunny wiped his spectacles carefully and folded them into their case.
”I am afraid now--I don't know why. Why don't you tell me all about Halsa? You never have.”
”There's not much to tell. You knew Stephen Lamport, my cousin, when he married Halsa six years ago, and we went on board the Petrel and met them. You know what a scoundrel Stephen was. He led her an awful life for six years, and then deserted her before that last voyage of his to the Mauritius, when the Mahi went down with all on board.
Lamport was a big blackguard, but he is dead now.”
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