Forget him, my
children. See, I have come to renew my youth with you, to talk and eat
with you here amid God's good, green things, if I may.
"Yonder comes the excellent Atkinson with the tea equipage. Will you be
my hostess, Diana?"
"Old pal--dear," she answered a little tremulously, "I'd just love
to."
"Why, child," said the Earl, while I assisted the grave and decorous
Atkinson to unpack the various dainties and comestibles, "why, child,
how beautiful your hair is!" and lifting a silky tress in gentle,
reverent fingers, our Ancient Person kissed it with stately gallantry.
CHAPTER XXXVI
TELLS HOW I MET ANTHONY AGAIN
"What with banns and certif'cates and this and that and t'other, they
don't make it very easy for people to get married, do they,
Peregrine?"
"No!" I answered.
We were jolting Tonbridge-wards in the Tinker's cart; the afternoon
was very hot, and Diogenes, hearing the murmur of our voices, subsided
to a leisured amble like the knowing, four-footed philosopher he was.
"Seven pounds seems a lot to pay for just one gown--even if it is to
marry you in, doesn't it, Peregrine?"
"In three weeks!" I added.
"And four days!" she nodded.
"Twenty-five days--it's an age, Diana! Much may happen in such a
time--"
"It will, Peregrine!"
"Pray what?"
"Lots of things, banns and certif-icates and--my new dress as will
cost so much--"
"Seven pounds is ridiculously cheap, you dear child! And talking of
banns, it may seem strange, Diana, that I have never troubled to
enquire your surname, nor should I bother you now but that the parson
must know--"
"Well, it's not so very strange that I've never bothered to tell you
my name, Peregrine, because I don't know it.
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