"Darn your aunt!" he scowled. "I didn't come to see her."
"But you will when you know her. She's darling."
"Take care! I happen to be very keen on this aunt of mine. If she didn't like you, you might get sent home. Don't be horrid, Hortie. I truly am glad you've come. You must make allowance for my being surprised. I haven't got over it yet. How in the world did you contrive to get away at this season? And what sort of a trip did you have?"
"Swell! I stopped overnight in New York at the Gardeners. Mother wanted me to deliver a birthday cake to Estelle who, you may remember, is the mater's god-daughter. She's a pippin, too. I hadn't seen her since she graduated from Vassar."
She did not need to be told about the Gardeners.
They had visited Horatio's family more than once and rumor had it the elders of both families would be delighted were the young people to make a match of it.
"I'm surprised you did not stay longer in New York," Sylvia observed, gazing reflectively at her white shoe.
"New York wasn't my objective. I came on business, you see."
"Yes," continued Horatio, "Dad gave me two months off so I could get married."
This time he got the reaction for which he had been waiting.
"I was not aware you were engaged," murmured she in a formal, far-away tone.
"I'm not," came frankly from Horatio Junior. "But I'm going to be. In fact I chance to have the ring with me this minute. Want to see it?"
"I always enjoy looking at jewels," was her cautious retort.
"Where on earth did I put that thing?" he muttered. "Hope I haven't lost it. Oh, here it is."
He took out a tiny velvet case and sprang the catch.
"Oh, Hortie! Isn't it beautiful!" Sylvia cried. "It fairly takes away my breath."
"It wouldn't fit me. My hands are too small."
"It's a small ring. Here. Put it on," he urged, holding it toward her.
"Well, I suppose I might try it to please you. But I know it will be too large."
"Very odd indeed," he answered drily, as she reached her hand out into the sun and turned the diamonds so that they caught the light.
"Looks rather well on, doesn't it?" was his comment.
Horatio, standing behind her, twice extended his arms as if to gather her into them and twice withdrew them, deciding the action to be premature.