“Well, on that condition.”

* * * * *

The first person Keith sought to tell of his new happiness was his father.  The old gentleman was sitting on the porch at Elphinstone in the sun, enjoying the physical sensation of warmth that means so much to extreme youth and extreme age.  He held a copy of Virgil in his hand, but he was not reading; he was repeating passages of it by heart.  They related to the quiet life.  His son heard him saying softly: 

     “’O Fortunatos nimium, sua si bona norint,
     Agricolas!’”

His mind was possibly far back in the past.

His placid face lit up with the smile that always shone there when his son appeared.

“Well, what’s the news?” he asked.  “I know it must be good.”

“It is,” smiled Keith.  “I am engaged to be married.”

The old gentleman’s book fell to the floor.

“You don’t say so!  Ah, that’s very good!  Very good!  I am glad of that; every young man ought to marry.  There is no happiness like it in this world, whatever there may be in the next.

     “‘Interea dulces pendent circum oscula nati.’

“I will come and see you,” he smiled.

“Come and see me!”

“But I am not very much at home in New York,” he pursued rather wistfully; “it is too noisy for me.  I am too old-fashioned for it.”

“New York?  But I’m not going to live in New York!”

A slight shadow swept over the General’s face.

“Well, you must live where she will be happiest,” he said thoughtfully.  “A gentleman owes that to his wife.—­Do you think she will be willing to live elsewhere?”

“Who do you think it is, sir!”

“Mrs. Lancaster, isn’t it?”

“Why, no; it is Lois Huntington.  I am engaged to her.  She has promised to marry me.”

“To her!—­to Lois Huntington—­my little girl!” The old gentleman rose to his feet, his face alight with absolute joy.  “That is something like it!  Where is she?  When is it to be?  I will come and live with you.”

“Of course, you must.  It is on that condition that she agrees to marry me,” said Keith, smiling with new happiness at his pleasure.

“‘In her tongue is the law of kindness,’” quoted the old gentleman.  “God bless you both.  ‘Her price is far above rubies.’” And after a pause he added gently:  “I hope your mother knows of this.  I think she must:  she seems so close to me to-day.”