at for some time he
and Imogen stood by unheeded, waiting their turn at explanation.

"Why, Dorry," cried Elsie at last, "why are you standing on one side
like that with Miss Young? You don't look as surprised as you ought. Did
you hear the news before we did? Imogen dear,--it isn't such good news
for you as for us."

"Oh, yes, indeed it is. I am quite as happy in it as you can be."

"Ladies and gentlemen," cried Lionel, who was in topping spirits and
could not be restrained, "this shrinking pair also have a tale to tell.
It is a case of 'change partners all round and down the middle.' Let me
introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. Theo--"

"Lion, you wretched boy, stop!" interrupted Johnnie. "That's not at all
the right way to do it. Let _me_ introduce them. Friends and countrymen,
allow the echoes of the Upper East Canyon to present to your favorable
consideration the echoes of the Lower East Canyon. We've all been
sitting up there, 'unbeknownst,' within a few feet of each other, and
none of us could account for the mysterious noises that we heard, till
we all started to come home, and met each other on the way down."

"What kind of noises?" demanded Elsie, in a suffocated voice.

"Oh, cooings and gurglings and soft murmurs of conversation and
whisperings. It was very unaccountable indeed, very!"

"Dorry," said Elsie, next day when she chanced to be alone with him,
"Would you mind if I asked you rather an impertinent question? You
needn't answer if you don't want to; but what was it that first put it
into your head to fall in love with Imogen Young? I'm very glad that you
did, you understand. She will make you a capital wife, and I'm going to
be very fond of her,--but still, I should just like to know."

"I don't know that I could tell you if I tried," replied her brother.
"How can a man explain that sort of thing? I fell in love because I was
destined to fall in love, I suppose. I liked her at the start, and
thought her pretty, and all that; and she seemed kind of lonely and left
out among you all. And then she's a quiet sort of girl, you know, not so
ready at talk as most, or so quick to pick at a fellow or trip him up.
I've always been the slow one in our family, you see, and by way of a
change it's rather refreshing to be with a woman who isn't so much
brighter than I am. The rest of you jump at an idea and off it again
while I'm gathering my wits together to see that there _is_ an idea.
Imogen doesn't do that, and