Tears and lamentations made up the story of the next few days.  
“When’s the washing coming home? I’ve cried out all my handkerchiefs, and I get scolded if I !” red-eyed Jill on the evening of the third day after Miles’ departure; and it appeared that most members of the family found themselves in the same predicament, for the first break in the family circle is a painful experience, especially when its members are as as were the Trevors.
 
It was a relief to all to watch the progress of the General’s wooing, and to have his presence among them. Now that the evenings were beginning to be really summer-like, he and Miss Beveridge would to the Square Gardens after dinner, and sit on a bench not far removed from that historic spot where he had fallen a victim to the twins’ love of adventure. As a rule, so soon as dusk approached, Miss Beveridge would take an omnibus and return to her “Home,” while the General would step stiffly into a cab and return to his flat, where the faithful Johnson was no doubt wondering what had happened to induce such young habits in his once stay-at-home master. One night, however, instead of separating as usual, they returned to Number 1, and the first glance at their faces showed that the dénouement had been reached. The General was red, Miss Beveridge was white; he was voluble with excitement, she was too excited to speak. Mrs Trevor read the signs of the times, and thoughtfully led the way to the drawing-room, so that the formal announcement of the engagement could be made away from the somewhat embarrassing of the young people.
 
“Alice has promised to let me take care of her! Congratulate me, my dear madam. I am the happiest man in the world!” cried the excited Irishman. “We have wasted enough time, but we are not going to waste any more. ‘Haste to the wedding!’—that’s our motto. What? Alice talks about clothes. Fiddlesticks, I tell her! We can buy the finest dress in London in half an hour’s time, or my name’s not Terence Digby. Then she talks about pupils. Pack of rubbish, I tell her! There are fifty women in London wanting to give lessons, for every pupil who wants to learn. Let someone else hear the ‘nid, nid, nodding’ for a change!” (This last was a dark reference to the air with which poor Pam had been wrestling for weeks past.) “‘A June wedding!’ Always said I’d be married in June if I had the chance, and it’s a poor thing if I can’t have my way after waiting twenty years. Don’t like July—nasty, month! Best way to spend it is a in the country. What? You’ll tell the boys and girls, eh? Tell them after we’ve gone. Too bashful to stand the racket to-night! Besides, there’s Johnson to face. Bit of a pill to face Johnson. What? Don’t know what he’ll say to a mistress, but it will be all right when he sees Alice. Alice will get over him fast enough!”
 
It was charming to see the look of proud which he cast at his fiancée; charming to see her changed and ; charming to see the smile of complete and happy confidence which was exchanged between the two. For the first time for many days the weight of depression lifted from Mrs Trevor’s heart, and she forgot Miles’ departure in rejoicing in their joy. Her face had its old bright look as she re-entered the study to tell the news to her children, who, truth to tell, were not too sympathetic in their reception.
 
The three elders were, of course, more or less prepared for the announcement, but Pam in shocked surprise.
 
“Married!” she cried . “But they are so old! What’s the good of being married, and having all the bother for nothing? They’ll be dead so soon!”
 
“It’s an awful fag. It won’t be half so much sport going to tea,” commented Jill with selfishness, while his shoulders and .
 
“Got everything he wants—rattling good food, all his and things around him, and Johnson to save all bother. Can’t think why he couldn’t be satisfied!”
 
Only Betty was silent, her heart warming with a tender sympathy over the story of an old and loyal love. Miss Beveridge was quite, quite old, over forty, and her hair was grey, yet the General called her a girl, and thought her beautiful still. Somehow the thought had a direct personal comfort. Other people might feel the same; and thirty—thirty was comparatively young!
 
The next day the General was taken in state to call upon Nan Vanburgh, who had heard from Betty which way the wind was blowing, but had, of course, been obliged to preserve an unconscious demeanour until the engagement was a fait accompli.
 
“Under , madam, I am indeb............