Even the cap-ribbons were left to shift for themselves.

She turned and clasped Alfred in her arms.
"My blessed son!" Then followed a moment of silent rapture, during which she moistened his shirt-collar with maternal tears.
"Alfred," whispered she, "are you really engaged ?" "Yes'm." She squeezed him as if he were a bag of the million dollars of which she felt herself to be henceforth mistress.
"You dear, good boy! Then you _are_ sly after all!" "Yes'm, I'm afraid I am," rejoined Alfred very uncomfortably, and with an extremely ridiculous and nervous impression that his mother was congratulating him upon something she knew nothing about.
"Dear, _dear_, DEAR boy!" said Mrs.Dinks, with a crescendo affection and triumph.

While she was yet embracing him, his father, the unemployed statesman, the Honorable Budlong Dinks, entered.
To the infinite surprise of that gentleman, his wife rose, came to him, put her arm affectionately in his, and leaning her head upon his shoulder, whispered exultingly, and not very softly, "It's done without the wagon.

Our dear boy has justified our fondest hopes, Budlong." The statesman slipped his shoulder from under her head.

If there were one thing of which he was profoundly persuaded it was that a really great man--a man to whom important public functions may be properly intrusted--must, under no circumstances, be wheedled by his wife.