"I wish that he may have the thing he wants the very most in all the
world," she was saying fervently under her breath. When she was done
she rose from the leaves, and he sprang up beside her.
"There's one more ceremony," he told her, half-amusedly. "Even for a
four days' engagement, to make it _quite_ legal--" He bent
toward her, smiling.
"Oh--oh, should we?" stammered Joy, her wild-rose color deepening to
rose-red.
"I really think we should," said John solemnly. It was the nearest
to teasing any one he had come for a long time, and he found himself
rather enjoying it. Besides, in his heart lurked the feeling that
the child ought to realize that she might have let herself in for a
good deal, if she hadn't fallen into merciful hands. He was a little
ashamed of himself at the sweet way she took it. She merely held
herself quite still and serious, and lifted her face a little.
John was a young man who always went through with anything he had
begun, and he bent over and kissed Joy, very lightly.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"I--I didn't mind," said Joy, trying to make him happy, for she saw
he was sorry, though she didn't know why or what for.
"You dear child!" he said. "Well, I won't do it again. I was teasing
you, and I shouldn't. Come, we ought to go now."
She fell into step beside him, still mystified, but very much
obliged to him in general, and they went back to the bungalow and
congratulations side by side.
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