"Oh," Lucy clapped her hands, very well satisfied with the unexpected
news, "and have you?"
"Mrs. Jasher," said the Professor gravely, "did me the honor to promise
to become my wife this evening."
"She will become your wife this evening?" said Archie, smiling.
Braddock, with one of those odd twists of humor which were
characteristic of him, became irascible.
"Confound it, sir, don't I speak English," he snapped, with his eyes
glaring rebuke. "She promised this evening to become Mrs. Braddock.
We shall marry--so we have arranged--in the springtime, which is the
natural pairing season for human beings as well as for birds. And I am
glad to say that Mrs. Jasher takes a deep interest in archaeology."
"And, what is more, she is a splendid housekeeper," said Lucy.
The temporary anger of the Professor vanished. He drew his step-daughter
towards him and kissed her on the cheek.
"I believe that I have to thank you for putting the idea into my head,"
said he, "and also--if Mrs. Jasher is to be believed--for aiding her
to see the mutual advantage it would be to both of us to marry. Ha," he
released Lucy and rubbed his hands, "let us go to dinner."
"I am very glad," said Miss Kendal heartily.
"So am I, so am I," replied Braddock, nodding. "As you very truly
observed, my child, the house would have gone to rack and ruin without
a woman to look after my interests. Well," he took the arms of the two
young people, "I really think that we must have a bottle of champagne on
the strength of it."
Shortly the trio were seated at the table, and Braddock explained that
Mrs. Jasher, being overcome by his proposal, had not been able to face
the ordeal of congratulations.
"But she will come to-morrow," said he, as Cockatoo filled three
glasses.
"Indeed, I shall congratulate her to-night," said Lucy obstinately. "As
soon as dinner is over, I shall go with Archie to her house, and tell
her how pleased I am."
"It is very cold for you to be out, Lucy dear," urged Archie anxiously.
"Oh, I can wrap up warmly," she answered.
Strange to say, the Professor made no objection to the excursion,
although Hope quite expected such a stickler for etiquette to refuse
permission to his step-daughter. But Braddock seemed rather pleased
than otherwise. His proposal of marriage seemed to have put him into
excellent humor, and he raised his glass with a chuckle.
"I drink to your happiness, my dear Lucy, and to that of Mrs. Jasher's."
"And I drink to Archie's and to yours, father," she replied. "I am glad
that you will not be lonely when we are married. Archie and I wish to
become one in January."