happy to marry
Stanor, I'll give you my blessing, and the finest trousseau that money
can buy. You're young yet, and he has his way to make. You'll have to
wait patiently, for a few years, until he can make a home, but it's a
happy time, being engaged. I feel defrauded myself to have had so
little of it. Storing up things in a bottom drawer, and picking up old
furniture at sales, and polishing it up so lovingly, thinking of where
it is going, and letters coming and going, and looking forward to the
time when he'll come down next--'tis a beautiful time. Three or four
years ought to pass like a trice!"

"Besides leaving plenty of time to change your mind. I know you, me
dear!" cried Pixie shrewdly. "I see through you! You'll be relieved to
hear that the date has not been mentioned, but you can start with the
trousseau as soon as you please. I'll take it in quarterly instalments,
and spin out the pleasure, besides sparing my friends the shock of
seeing me suddenly turn grand. My affianced suitor is coming to proffer
a formal demand for my hand. Will ye be kind to him now, and give him
some tea?"

"I will," said Joan readily. To herself she added: "We are all alike,
we O'Shaughnessys, we will be led, but we will _not_ be driven. It's no
use appearing to object! Things must just take their course..."

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

THE "RUNKLE" INTERVENES.

As little Jack continued to progress towards convalescence, the
attention of the household became increasingly absorbed by the
astounding fact of Pixie's projected engagement. Bridgie, detained at
home by malapropos ailments on the part of the children, wrote urgent
letters by daily posts, contradicting herself on every point saving one
alone--the advisability of delay. Geoffrey Hilliard as host, Dick
Victor as guardian, Jack, Pat, and Miles as brothers, proposed,
seconded, and carried by acclamation the same waiting policy. And no
one who has the faintest knowledge of human nature will need to be told
that such an attitude had the effect of rousing the youthful lovers to
the liveliest impatience.

Stanor in particular was moved to rebellion. His pride was hurt by so
lukewarm a reception of his addresses, which was all the more
disagreeable for being unexpected. The Hilliards had shown so much
friendship and hospitality to him as a friend, that he had taken for
granted that they would welcome him in a closer relationship. He was
not a great _parti_ it w