I
thought you 'd have him, 'cause o' course he knowed you 'd have him 's
well 's I did. He said 's he sh'd mention it about town to keep any
women from takin' the same train with him. He says he has n't been
anywhere by himself for ever so long. He says jus' as soon 's he 's
married he 's goin' off for a good long trip, all alone."

Susan ceased speaking for a little; Mrs. Lathrop looked dazed and
dubious.

"It's so unex--" she said slowly.

"The beginnin' o' gettin' married always is," said her friend; "but it
's all there is about it 's is even unexpected. It's all cut an' dried
from there on. Once you take a man, nothin' 's ever sudden no more.
Folks expects all sorts o' pleasant surprises; everybody seems to get
married for better, an' then get along for worse. They begin by
imaginin' a lot 'n' then lookin' for the thing to be 'way beyond the
imaginin'; it ain't long afore they see 't their imaginin' was 'way
beyond the thing, 'n' after that they soon have it all on top o' them to
carry till they die."

"I never was no great hand at marryin'," said Mrs. Lathrop, faintly. "I
was propelled into it the first--"

"Well, nobody ain't propellin' you this time," said Miss Clegg. "I 'm
hangin' back on your skirts, with my heels stuck in 's far 's they 'll
go." She rose as she spoke.

"I don 't know what I shall--" began the older woman, looking up at the
younger.

"You 've got all to-morrow to decide. He won't be back till five
o'clock. I should n't worry, 'f I was you. O' course, it 's your last
love affair, probably, 'n' you want to get 's much 's you can out of it;
but I don't see no call to fret any. He ain't frettin'. He 's jus' in a
hurry to get married, 'n' get rid o' Gran'ma Mullins 'n' Mrs. Macy an'
Polly Ann an' 'Liza Em'ly, 'n' get started on that nice long trip he 's
goin' on alone."

"I shall think--" murmured Mrs. Lathrop.

Susan was decking herself for going home.

"I won't be over in the mornin'," she said as she tied on her cap; "I
've got errands down-town; but I 'll come over after dinner."

"Good-by," said Mrs. Lathrop.

"Good-by," said her friend.

* * * * *

It was somewhat warmer the next morning. Mrs. Lathrop began the day on a
cup of extra-strong coffee, and continued it in an unusual mood of
clearing up. Her kitchen was really very close to exemplary when two
o'clock arrived, and she took up her knitting to wait for the promised
visitation.

It m