Tom opined it was like their impudence! and promptly repeated a manoeuvre considered by him highly original, which resulted in the total eclipse of Kitty, all except the top of her little fair head. They were sitting on the old leather sofa in the sitting-room. It was a short sofa, and Kitty now decreed that Tom was to sit at the further end, and stay there, unless he would behave and listen to her. He couldn't hear unless he held her hand--both hands? What nonsense! Well, then---- "You see, dear! Cyrus is the blessedest place in the world, and the _only_ place to live in; but there aren't many--many _occasions_, you see, Tom. Now a wedding is an occasion! Aunt Johanna's was delightful, but it had to be very small, because the Judge--I mean Uncle Edward--can't _abide_ occasions." "No more can I," said Tom. "You'll have to abide them, sir! what are you a duke for, I should like to know? For me? That is no answer. Well--so--when I saw how disappointed they were--the Twinnies, and dear Miss Caddies, and the Chanter girls, and--oh, everybody except just the few people who _had_ to be asked--I said then that if ever I _should_ be married--though I never expected to be then--I would have a Real Wedding, and ask Everybody! Oh, Tommy! you know I heard----" Here followed an account of Tom's reported marriage to the cattle king's widow, marble palace and all. Tom shouted with laughter. "Good old Mother Harris! Sixty years old, and weighs two hundred pounds; that is rich! She's married a Leigh all right: Tim, her head stockman. She's a good friend of mine, though, Kitty. Darling--Well, I _have_ to have just one, after being married to Aunt Harris. Go on, you little precious, precious----" "That's all!" said Kitty, demurely. "I want to have a Real Wedding, and to ask Everybody: Savory Bite and all, Tommy!" So she had, and so she did. Some of the neighbors thought they would wait for the return of Judge and Mrs. Peters in September: but these did not know Tom Lee. Tom sent a cable the morning after his arrival. "Marry Kitty. When? Lee." The answer flashed back: "To-morrow. Joy. Peters." So _that_ was all right.