Perhaps I ought to have consulted your father , but I was afraid he would think I ought to refuse Mr. Malcolm MacPherson . '' `` Oh , I do n't think father will mind , '' said Peggy reassuringly . `` I hope not , because , of course , I would consider it my duty in any case to fulfil the promise I have given to Mr. Malcolm MacPherson . He will be in Grafton next week , the guest of his sister , Mrs. John Seaman , across the bridge . '' Aunt Olivia said that exactly as if she were reading it from the personal column of the Daily Enterprise . `` When is the wedding to be ? '' I asked . `` Oh ! '' Aunt Olivia blushed distressfully . `` I do not know the exact date . Nothing can be definitely settled until Mr. Malcolm MacPherson comes . But it will not be before September , at the earliest . There will be so much to do . You will tell your father , wo n't you ? '' We promised that we would , and Aunt Olivia arose with an air of relief . Peggy and I hurried over home , stopping , when we were safely out of earshot , to laugh . The romances of the middle-aged may be to them as tender and sweet as those of youth , but they are apt to possess a good deal of humour for onlookers . Only youth can be sentimental without being mirth-provoking . We loved Aunt Olivia and were glad for her late , new-blossoming happiness ; but we felt amused over it also . The recollection of her `` Mr. Malcolm MacPherson '' was too much for us every time we thought of it .
Father pooh-poohed incredulously XXXXX first , and , when we had convinced him , guffawed with laughter .
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