"Don't you dare to call me that, Monty Huntington!" Marian exclaimed vehemently. "If I am to go through life with a son-in-law older than I am, at least I won't be called 'mamma'!" "I'm trying to be respectful," Huntington explained mischievously. "Never you mind that,--call me 'Marian.' That at least will give me the benefit of the doubt." "I'm sorry to mark my entrance into the family by causing mortification," Huntington continued in mock-seriousness. "It never occurred to me, if my prospective wife made no objections, that my age would be offensive to her parents. But the case isn't so serious as Ned Fordham's, is it?" "He married Mrs. Eustis, didn't he?" "Yes; and you remember that she has a married daughter and a small grandchild. Ned said the idea of a ready-made family was fine, but he thought it immoral for him to become a grandfather before he became a father." "Rather late for him to come to that conclusion, wasn't it?" Thatcher laughed. "Yes; but he found two other men in the same predicament, so the three of them have formed a 'Society of Illegitimate Grandparents,' and now they're looking for more members." "Ned would joke at his own funeral!" chuckled Thatcher. "It isn't your age I'm objecting to," Marian explained; "it's my own. Merry's engagement makes me realize it." "She and I are going to make you forget that you have any age at all," Huntington declared.--"But when you interrupted me I was going to speak of a really important matter.--We mustn't be unmindful of poor Hamlen." "No, indeed," Marian replied seriously. "Happiness is selfish, isn't it, in making us temporarily forgetful? Poor Philip!" "We are doing him no injustice," he reassured her; "in fact I think the news I can take will please him. But I want you and Merry to go back to Boston with me." "Whatever you think is wise shall be done," she acquiesced, "but wouldn't it be better for you to go ahead to prepare him for our coming?" "That is by far the wiser plan," Huntington assented promptly. "Take me with you, Monty," Merry whispered; "I wish we never need be separated again." "Stay here, sweetheart, and plan out with the dear mother how soon that day may be. I have been waiting too long already!" * * * * * The nurse met Huntington as he entered the door, and replied to the question his face asked sooner than his lips. "There is a remarkable improvement," she announced cheerfully. "The doctor was here this morning, and left word for you that the progress is beyond his understanding." "Splendid!" he cried. "Where shall I find Hamlen? "In the library, Mr. Huntington; it is all I can do to persuade him to go anywhere else." Huntington mounted the stairs two steps at time. "Hamlen!" he cried, "where are you?"