I found her by Rubens' grave, and there we plighted our troth.
* * * * * It was in the evening of the same day that Polly and I met in the hall, on our way to attempt the difficult task of dressing for dinner in five minutes.

The grey-eyed lady of my love had just left me for the same purpose, and I was singing, I don't know what, at the top of my voice in pure blitheness of heart.

Polly and I fairly rushed into each other's arms.
"My dear child!" said I, swinging her madly round, "I am delirious with delight, and so is Sweep, for she kissed his nose." Poor Polly buried her head on my shoulder, saying, "And, oh, Regie! I _am_ so happy!" It was thus that my father and Aunt Maria found us.

Fate, spiteful at our happiness, had sent my father, stiff with an irreproachable neckcloth, and Aunt Maria, rustling in amber silk and black laces, towards the drawing-room, five minutes too early for dinner, but just in time to catch us in the most sentimental of attitudes, and to hear dear, candid, simple-hearted Polly's outspoken confession--"I _am_ so happy!" "And how long are you going to keep your happiness to yourselves, young people ?" said my father, whose face beamed with a satisfaction more sedately reflected in Aunt Maria's countenance.

"Do you grudge the old folks a share?
Eh, sir?
eh ?" And the old gentleman pinched my shoulder, and clapped me on the back.
He was positively playful.
"Stop, my dear father," said I, "you're mistaken." "Eh, what ?" said my father, and Aunt Maria drew her laces round her and prepared for war.
"Polly and I are not engaged, sir, if that's what you think," said I, desperately.
My father and Aunt Maria both opened their mouths at once.
"Dinner's on the table, sir," the butler announced.