Only you have so often said that she wished you to get married--"
"Excuse me, my dear. What I said was, 'Aunt Caroline wished to get
me married.' The position of the infinitive is the important thing.
Aunt Caroline never intended me to do it all by myself."
"Oh. Then, in that case, she may resent your having done it."
"Resent," cheerfully, "is a feeble word. It doesn't express Aunt
Caroline at all."
"You take it calmly."
"Well, you see I've got you to fight for me now."
They looked at each other over the empty coffee cups and laughed.
It is easy to laugh on a fine morning. But if they had known where
Aunt Caroline was at that moment--how-ever, they didn't.
"Once," said Spence "my Aunt read a book upon Eugenics. I don't know
how it happened. It was one of those inexplicable events for which
no one can account. It made a deep impression. She has studied me
ever since with a view to scientific matrimony. Alas, my poor
relative!"
"I once read a book upon Eugenics, too," said Desire with a
reminiscent smile. "It seemed sensible. Of course I was not
personally interested and that always makes a difference. One thing
occurred to me, though--it didn't seem to give Nature credit for
much judgment."
Benis chuckled. "No, it wouldn't. Terrible old blunderer, Nature!
Always working for the average. Never seems to have heard the word
'specialize.' We've got her there."
"Then you think--"
"Oh no," hastily, "I don't.
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