"Yes, but our love has no organs and presents and prayer-books to bind
it together."
"Do you think it needs it?"
"Of course not! But it would be fun for us too some day to have a
marriage. Why should only one kind of love have its marriage ceremony?
When Mike's and your wedding is over, let's tell him that we're going
to send out cards for ours!"
"All right. What form shall the ceremony take--_Parfait Amour_?"
"You haven't forgotten?"
"I shall forget just the second after you--not before--and, no, I won't
be mean, I'll not even forget you then."
"Kiss me, Esther," said Henry.
"Kiss me again, Esther," he said. "Do you remember?"
"The cake and the beating?"
"Yes, that was our marriage."
* * * * *
When all the glory of that happy day hung in crimson low down in the
west, like a chariot of fire in which Mike and Esther were speeding to
their paradise, Henry walked with Angel, homeward through the streets of
Tyre, solemn with sunset. In both that happy day still lived like music
richly dying.
"Well," said Angel, in words far too practical for such a sunset, "I am
so glad it all went off so well. Poor dear Mrs. Mesurier, how bonny she
looked! And your dear old Aunt Tipping! Fancy her hiding there in
the church--"
"Of course we'd asked her," said Henry; "but, poor old thing, she
didn't feel grand enough, as she would say, to come publicly."
"And your poor father! Fancy him coming home for the lunch like that!"
"After all, it was logical of him," said Henry. "I suppose he had made
up his mind that he would resist as long as it was any use, and after
that--gracefully give in. And he was always fond of Mike."
"But didn't Esther cry, when he kissed her, and said that, since she'd
chosen Mike, he supposed he must choose him too. And Mike was as good as
crying too?"
"I think every one was. Poor mother was just a mop."
"Well, they're nearly home by now, I suppose."
"Yes, another half-hour or so."
"Oh, Henry, fancy! How wonderful for them! God bless them. I _am_ glad!"
"I wonder when we shall get our home," said Henry, presently.
"Oh, Henry, never mind us! I can't think of any one but them to-day."
"Well, dear, I didn't mean to be selfish--I was only wondering how
long you'd be willing to wait for me?"
"Suppose I were to say 'for ever!' Would that make you happy?"
"Well, I think, dear--I might perhaps arrange things by then."
THE END
End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Young Lives, by Richard Le Gallienne
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account