'Oh, excellent young maid, how much elder art thou than thy looks!'"

"Oh, Barry!" exclaimed Phyllis. "How much?"

"Five days, five whole days."

"Humph! It's the least they could do. They might have made it ten,"
grumbled Paula.

"Mr. Howland, may I speak to you a moment?" Barry's look and voice were
eloquent of resolve.

"Certainly, Barry. Immediately?"

"If you please, sir."

They retired to a corner, where Barry could be seen with ardent look
and vehement gesture putting his proposition to Mr. Howland, whose face
showed mingled pleasure and perplexity. The others waited patiently for
the conference to end.

"Oh, pshaw!" said Paula, "Barry ought to know by this time that the
pater simply can't make up his mind without me. I know what they are
at."

She moved over to them.

"Now, father, of course you will do as Barry wishes," she declared.
"Oh, I know what he wants. Now listen to me. Just wire Mrs. Vincent that
everything is perfectly all right, that you can guarantee Barry,
and that it's the sensible thing, the only thing to do under the
circumstances. Oh, we'll have it in that dear little church. Splendid.
Perfectly ripping! Eh, Phyllis? Come over here at once. Now, father, get
busy on the wire. Why waste a perfectly good hour in just talking about
it? What do you say, folks? How many say 'Ay'?"

Up went Barry's two hands, and with them Neil's and Paula's.

"What about you, miss?" asked Paula, turning wrathfully toward Phyllis.

Phyllis walked quietly to Barry's side.

"Barry," she said, giving him her hand, "I have decided to be married
to-morrow. I shall wire mamma."

Barry answered her only with his eyes.

"By Jove!" said Paula, "you Britishers are the limit, for stolid,
unemotional people. Here am I shouting my head off like a baseball fan,
to get this thing put through, and you quietly walk up and announce that
everything's fixed but the band."

The wires to London that afternoon were kept busy, a message going to
Mrs. Vincent from each member of the party, but it was felt that that
from Phyllis to her mother was really all that was necessary.

"Dearest Mamma--Barry and I are to be married tomorrow. English law
makes London impossible, as Barry has only five days. I am very happy,
feeling sure you approve. Our dearest, dearest love.

"Phyllis."

A long wire also went from Barry to Mr. Robertson, the minister of the
little church, where they had spent such a delightful hour that mo