“Yes, almost immediately,” Dick answered to that last.  “What was there to wait for?  They were old enough to know their own minds, he was well able to support a wife, and had a home ready for her.  It needed some improvements to be sure, but they could be made all the better with Maud there to give her opinion and advice.”

“But she must have time to prepare her trousseau,” said young Mrs. Dinsmore.

“I have just been coaxing her out of that notion,” laughed Dick, regarding his promised wife with admiring eyes.  “I want her, and the wedding finery can be attended to somewhat later.  I don’t think anything could be prettier or more becoming than the dress she wore at Cousin Rosie’s wedding, and why can’t she be married in that?”

“Why, it would do, I suppose!” exclaimed Mrs. Dinsmore.  “It is very pretty and becoming, and, with a bridal veil added, would make a suitable and handsome wedding dress.”

“A wedding dress?  Who is going to be married now?” cried a girlish voice, and Sydney and Walter were seen coming up the steps.  All turned at the sound of her voice, and Dick answered: 

“Your sister and I, Cousin Syd.  Are you willing to take me for a brother?”

“You!” she exclaimed, “you, Cousin Dick?  Why, I never dreamed of such a thing!  But I have no objection; no, not the least in the world—­except that you’ll be taking my sister away from me; I don’t like that at all.”

“No, Coz, that is altogether a mistake,” Dick hastened to say.  “I don’t want to separate you and Maud, and you have only to come along with us to escape that.  You will find plenty of room and a warm welcome at Torriswood.”

“Thank you,” she said; “but it’s so sudden I can’t realise it at all yet.  When did you make up your minds to get married?”

“Half an hour ago, perhaps; I forgot to look at my watch to take exact note of the time.”

“Oh! is that the way you do when you are taking note of a patient’s pulse, or the time for administering a dose of medicine?”

But Dick was saved the trouble of replying, as relatives, older and younger, came crowding up to learn what was going on.

Chester and Frank were as much surprised as Sydney had been, but by no means displeased.  They liked Dick as a cousin and had no objection to accepting him as a brother-in-law.  The newly affianced had no frowns or objections to meet; everybody seemed pleased and interested, and the only queries were as to when and where the marriage should take place.

“It should be at The Oaks, of course,” said young Mr. Dinsmore.  “That is her home, and has been for years.”

“And it was there mamma was married,” said Violet, “and Maud might stand in the very same place.”

“Yes, I should be glad to have her do so,” said Mrs. Travilla; “and she and Dick need ask nothing more than that their marriage may prove as happy a one as mine.”

“Yes, Cousin Elsie, I agree with you in that,” said Maud.  “I will be married at The Oaks, if Dick is satisfied to have it so.”