"The news that you are bursting to tell me. Hold on! I'll guess atit. You are elated, therefore it is not bad; but being news and notbad it must be good--from your point of view at any rate. Then youare jubilant, so there must be something personal in it--you aresufficiently an egoist for that. I am sure that nothing business-likeor official, such as the heading off the kidnappers, would have such apositive effect on you. Then, it being personal, and you having rathermore of a dominant air than usual about you--Let me see--Oh!" shestopped in confusion, and a bright blush swept over her face and neck.I waited. It frightened me just a wee bit to see the unerring accuracywith which she summed me up; but she was clearing the ground for merapidly and effectively. After a pause she said in a small voice:
"Archie show me what you have got in your waistcoat pocket." It was myturn to blush a bit now. I took out the tiny case which held the goldring and handed it to her. She took it with a look of adorable sweetnessand opened it. I think she suspected only an engagement ring, for whenshe saw it was one of plain gold she shut the box with a sudden "Oh!"and kept it hidden in her hand, whilst her face was as red as sunset. Ifelt that my time had come.
"Shall I tell you now?" I asked putting my arms round her.
"Yes! if you wish." This was said in a low voice "But I am too surprisedto think. What does it all mean? I thought that this--this sort of thingcame later, and after some time was mutually fixed for--for--_it_!"
"No time like the present, Marjory dear!" As she was silent, though shelooked at me wistfully, I went on:
"I have made a plan and I think you will approve of it. That is as awhole; even if you dislike some of the details. What do you think ofan escape from the espionage of both the police and the other fellows.You got hidden before; why not again, when once you have put them offthe scent. I have as a matter of fact planned a little movement whichwill at any rate try whether we can escape the watchfulness of thesegentlemen."
"Good!" she said with interest.
"Well, first of all" I went on, getting nervous as I drew near thesubject "Don't you think that it will be well to prevent anyone talkingabout us, hereafter, in an unpleasant way?"
"I'm afraid I don't quite understand!"
"Well, look here, Marjory. You and I are going to be much throwntogether in these matters that seem to be coming on; if there is anyescaping to be done, there will be watchful eyes on us before it, andgossiping tongues afterwards; and inquiries and comparing of noteseverywhere. We shall have to go off together, often alone or under oddcircumstances. You can't fight a mystery in the open, you know; andyou can't by walking out boldly, bamboozle trained detectives who havealready marked you down."
"Not much; but it doesn't need any torturing of our brains with thinkingto know that."
"Well then my suggestion is that we be married at once. Then no one canever say anything in the way of scandal; no matter what we do, or wherewe go!" My bolt was sped, and somehow my courage began to ooze away. Iwaited to hear what she would say. She waited quite a while and thensaid quietly:
"Don't be frightened, Archie, I am thinking it over. I must think; itis all too serious and too sudden to decide on in a moment. I am glad,anyhow, that you show such decision of character, and turn passingcircumstances into the direction in which you wish them to work. Itargues well for the future!"
"Now you are satirical!"
"Just a little. Don't you think there is an excuse?" She was not quitesatisfied; and indeed I could not be surprised. I had thought of thematter so unceasingly for the last twenty-four hours that I did not missany of the arguments against myself; my natural dread of her refusaltook care of that. As, however, I almost expected her to begin with aprompt negative, I was not unduly depressed by a shade of doubt. I was,however, so single-minded in my purpose--my immediate purpose--thatI could endure to argue with her doubts. As it was evident that she,naturally enough, thought that I wanted her to marry me at once out ofthe ardour of my love, I tried to make her aware as well as I could ofmy consideration for her wishes. Somehow, I felt at my best as I spoke;and I thought that she felt it too:
"I'm not selfish in the matter, Marjory dear; at least I don't wish tobe. In this I am thinking of you altogether; and to prove it let me saythat all I suggest is the formal ceremony which will make us one inform. Later on--and this shall be when you choose yourself and onlythen--we can have a real marriage, where and when you will; with flowersand bridesmaids and wedding cake and the whole fit out. We can be goodcomrades still, even if we have been to church together; and I willpromise you faithfully that till your own time I won't try to make loveto you even when you're my wife--of course any more than I do now.Surely that's not too much to ask in the way of consideration."
My dear Marjory gave in at once. It might have been that she liked theidea of an immediate marriage; for she loved me, and all lovers like theseal of possession fixed upon their hopes:
"Time goes on crutches, till love have all his rites."
But be this as it may, she wished at any rate to believe in me. She cameto me and put both her hands in mine and said with a gentle modesty,which was all tenderness in fact, and all wifely in promise:
"Be it as you will, Archie! I am all yours in heart now; and I am readyto go through the ceremony when you will."
"Remember, dear" I protested "it is only on your account, and to tryto meet your wishes at any sacrifice, that I suggested the intervalof comradeship. As far as I am concerned I want to go straight to thealtar--the real altar--now." Up went her warning finger as she saidlovingly:
"I know all that dear; and I shall remember it when the time comes. Butwhat have we to do to prepare for--for the wedding. Is it to be in achurch or at a registry. I suppose it doesn't matter which under thecircumstances--and as we are to have the real marriage later. When doyou wish it to be, and where?"
"To-morrow!" She started slightly as she murmured:
"So soon! I did not think it could be so soon."
"The sooner the better" said I "If we are to carry out our plans. All'sready; see here" I handed her the license which she read with glad eyesand a sweet blush. When she had come to the end of it I said:
"I have arranged with the clergyman of St. Hilda's Church in Carlisle tobe ready at eight o'clock to-morrow morning." She sat silent a while andthen asked me:
"And how do you suggest that I am to get there without the detectivesseeing me?"
"That is to be our experiment as to escape. I would propose that youshould slip out in some disguise. You will of course have to arrangewith Mrs. Jack, and at least one servant, to pretend that you are stillat home. Why not let it be understood that you have a headache and arekeeping your room. Your meals can be taken to you as would be done, andthe life of the household seem to go on just as usual."
"And what disguise had you thought of?"
"I thought that if you went dressed as a man it would be best."