"Back came the lover, wise and bold,
To snatch his lady, grown cross and old,
To a mountain cave he'll carry his prey,
And there they'll be happy for ever and aye!"
Everyone laughed at Pat's disgust.
"I think that's very silly and Aunt Pen isn't cross and old a bit and----" she stopped suddenly. "Do you mean that's true?" she demanded.
It was Aunt Pen now who grew very red. But she nodded and turned toward her brother.
"We have a surprise! A long time ago Will and I were engaged--my last year in college! Then we let foolish things come between us and we have lost a good many years of happiness, but----"
"Now we're going to make up for it!" put in Capt. Allan. "And I won't be lonely in that place in the mountains, after all!"
"Oh, Aunt Pen, I'm so glad!" and Pat threw two strong young arms around Penelope's neck. Everyone talked at once. Renée, looking at Emile and then at the other happy faces about her, thought that all the joy in the world must have crowded there within the four walls of the sunny dining-room!
"It'll be just as though we were really related," she put in, shyly. "For I'll always feel that Capt. Allan is my guardian and Emile belongs to me and Pat belongs to Aunt Pen!"
"Don't leave me out, Mouse!"
"Oh, no!" and Renée's contrition was tragic. "For you are the very best man in the world and belong to all of us!"