"Oh, I would n't be so mean as to want it all the time, besides it would be so monotonous; but I do want it this once--the great and only 'once' for me." "Where do you want to be married? Have you any preference?" "A decided one. I want to be married in the chapel of St. Luke's, and I want Doctor Rugvie to give me away. As you both came down last night from Lamoral, I don't believe he is away from the city, now is he?" "He is up at St. Luke's. He said he should be there till five. I was to telephone him there." "Then at five it shall be," I declared, with an emphasis that made him smile again. "At five you shall be married; but, remember, I am the party of the second part." He spoke half whimsically; I was so glad to hear that tone in his voice. I welcomed the joy that began to express itself normally in merry give and take. "No, first, Mr. Ewart--always first--" "I don't see it so." "Not at present, but you will when I am Mrs. Ewart. I want to ask you a question." "Yes, anything." "Have you ever seen those papers that Doctor Rugvie has in his possession?" "No, and I never want to. They are yours." "But I don't want to see them either. You do not know their contents?" "No; only that there is a marriage certificate among them and a paper or two for you." I noticed he avoided mentioning my mother's name. "Gordon--" I called him so for the first time, and was rewarded with a kiss, after which intermezzo, I finished what I had to say: "--You say let the past bury its dead; so long as those papers exist, it will, in a way, live. I would like to know that they do not exist." "You are sure you do not care to know your parentage?" "No. Why should I? What is that to me? It is enough that I am to be your wife--and what my mother said, or did not say, could not influence me now. She never could have anticipated _this_. Besides, there might be some mention by her of my parentage." "You express my own thought, my own desire, Marcia. Shall we ask John to destroy them?" "Yes, and the sooner the better." He drew a long breath of relief. "Then that chapter is closed--and I have you to myself, without knowledge of any other tie. I thank God that I have come into my own through you alone. Come, we must be going." "I 'll just run up stairs and tell Jane that I shall not come back here, and, Gordon--" "Yes?" "I want something else with all my heart." "What, more? I am growing impatient." "I want Delia Beaseley and Cale for witnesses--" "It is wonderful how a man can make plans and a woman undo them when she has her way! I was intending to be married by a magistrate, and then carry you off unbeknown to Cale and Company, and telephone to them later. Now, of course, they shall be with us."