e he
will not let one escape him and there is always a pleasant look in his
face when you open the door to him;" and she ran to the door.

"Mrs. Grattan, won't you get me a cup of tea?" And then he felt he must
talk to some one. "You needn't bring it upstairs, I will take it in the
kitchen if you'll let me."

Mrs. Grattan had a beautiful kitchen. It had an old dresser with a
carved top and a grandfather's clock, and Ned liked to sit on the table
and watch the stove. She poured him out a cup of tea and he drank it,
swinging his legs all the time.

"Well, Mrs. Grattan, I'll tell you some news--I think I am going to
marry Miss Cronin."

"Well," said she, "it doesn't astonish me," but she nearly let the
teapot drop. "From the first day you came here I always thought
something was going to happen to you."

He had no sooner told her the news than he began to regret he had told
her, and he said that Miss Cronin had gone to her father to ask his
consent. Of course, if he did not give it, there would be no marriage.

"But he will give it. Miss Ellen does exactly as she likes with him,
and it's a fine fortune you will be having with her."

"It isn't of that I am thinking," said Ned, "but of her red hair."

"And you wouldn't believe me when I said that she was the prettiest
girl in the country. Now you will see for yourself."

Ned hadn't finished his tea when there was a knock at the door.

"And how do you do, Miss Ellen?" said Mrs. Grattan, and Ellen guessed
from her manner that Ned had told her.

"Well, Mrs. Grattan, I am glad that you are the first person to bear
the news to. I have just asked my father's consent and he has given it.
I am going to marry Mr. Carmady."

Mrs. Grattan was sorry there was no cake on the table, but there was
some buttered toast in the oven; and Ellen reminded her of the paper
boats and the alder-trees, and they spoke for a long time about her son
James and about people that Ned knew nothing of, until Ned began to
feel bored and went to the window. Every now and again he heard a word
referring to their marriage, and when the women had done their talk,
Ellen said:--

"Father says you are to come back to dinner."

"Mrs. Grattan," said Ned, "we caught three trout this afternoon," and
Ellen wondered why Ned should take so much trouble to explain the tale
of their fishing, she was intending to talk to them of their honeymoon.

"I was thinking, Ned, that as our love began in a love of Irel