"I think Mother will want her innings sooner or later," he said.
"But we haven't really told either of you all about it. You shall
have the whole thrilling tale in the train. Suspend judgment on us
both till then, please."
"Oh, there isn't any judgment," Phyllis answered gaily. "You needn't
try to get out of your engagement on our account, either of you. The
Harrington family registers entire satisfaction, doesn't it, Allan?"
"We're both awfully glad, old man," said Allan for his part.
Joy wondered, her heart beating with excitement, if they would mind
very much when they heard the truth.... But such kind people as the
Harringtons couldn't be very angry!
She was beginning to feel irrevocably engaged.... Never mind--John
Hewitt would see her through. She looked up at him, and he smiled
down on her.
"Let's all have dinner sent over here," suggested Phyllis
brilliantly, "to celebrate. We'll have Viola go over to the hotel
for your grandparents."
But Grandfather, it appeared, had gone to bed to rest from his
excitement, and Grandmother, of course, was staying with him. So the
four of them ate together in the little green living-room of the
bungalow, talking and laughing happily. Joy, between Allan and John,
spoke very little. But she felt so contented and so in the midst of
things that she did not need to talk. She gleamed and shone like a
jewel or a flower, smiling and answering happily when she was
addressed: and John, looking at her, felt that his four days'
protectorate was going to be perfectly simple and easy to endure.
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