"Ah! but, Freddy, I've something delicious to tell you. There sit down there, you look quite queer, while I----" "No wonder I do," says he, at last rather wrathfully. "To judge by your wild gesticulations at the window just now, any one might have imagined that the house was on fire and a hostile race tearing en masse into the back yard. And now--why, it appears you are quite pleased about something or other. Really such disappointments are enough to age any man--or make him look 'queer,' that was the word you used, I think?" "Listen," says she, seating herself beside him, and flipping her arm around his neck. "Joyce is going to marry Felix--after all. There!" Still with her arm holding him, she leans back a little to mark the effect of this astonishing disclosure. CHAPTER LIV. "Well said; that was laid on with a trowel." "Gratiano speaks an infinite deal of nothing, more than any man in all Venice." "After all, indeed; you may well say that," says Mr. Monkton, with indignation. "If those two idiots meant matrimony all along, why on earth didn't they do it all before. See what a lot of time they've lost, and what a disgraceful amount of trouble they have given all round." "Yes, yes, of course. But then you see, Freddy, it takes some time to make up one's mind about such an important matter as that." "It didn't take you long," says Mr. Monkton most unwisely. "It took me a great deal longer than it took you," replies his wife with dignity. "You have always said that it was the very first day you ever saw me--and I'm sure it took me quite a week!" This lucid speech she delivers with some severity. "More shame for you," says Monkton promptly. "Well, never mind," says she, too happy and too engrossed with her news to enjoy even a skirmish with her husband. "Isn't it all charming, Freddy?" "It has certainly turned out very well, all things considered." "I think it is the happiest thing. And when two people who love each other are quite young----" "Really, my dear, you are too flattering," says Monkton. "Considering the gray hairs that are beginning to make themselves so unpleasantly at home in my head, I, at all events, can hardly lay claim to extreme youth." "Good gracious! I'm not talking of us; I'm talking of them," cries she, giving him a shake. "Wake up, Freddy. Bring your mind to bear upon this big news of mine, and you will see how enchanting it is. Don't you think Felix has behaved beautifully--so faithful, so constant, and against such terrible odds? You know Joyce is a little difficult sometimes. Now hasn't he been perfect all through?"