Afterwards we shall expect to see you both, clothed and in your right minds, at dinner." The still look of happiness that had dwelt all day in Penelope's eyes woke suddenly into radiance, just as you may watch the calm surface of the sea, when the tide is at its full, break into a hundred sparkling ripples at the vivifying touch of a wandering breeze.
She turned back hesitatingly, looking all at once absurdly young and a little frightened--this tall and stately Penelope--while a faint blush-rose colour ran swiftly up beneath the pallor of her skin, and her eyes--those nice, humorous brown eyes of hers that always looked the world so kindly and honestly in the face--held the troubled shyness of a little child.
Kitty laid a gentle hand on her arm.
"Run along, my chicken," she said, suddenly feeling a thousand years old as she saw Penelope standing, virginal and sweet, at the threshold of the gate through which she herself had passed with happy footsteps years ago--that gate which opens to the wondering fingers of girlhood, laid so tremulously upon love's latch, and which closes behind the woman, shutting her into paradise or hell.
"Run along, my chicken.

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And give Ralph my blessing!" * * * * * * It was not until the next day, towards the end of lunch, that Ralph shot his bolt from the blue.