what he would become. But Walter Middleton grinned and said:

"Heaven may know that, Uncle Merlin; but I know one thing!"

"What is that, Jackanapes?"

"I know they may thank Bee for their son-in-law, for she did all the
courting!"

The panic-stricken party remained silent for a moment, and then
Judge Merlin said:

"Well, sir! I know another thing!"

"And what is that, uncle?"

"That it will be a long time before you find a young lady to do you
such an honor!"

Everybody laughed, not at the brilliancy of the joke, for the joke
was not brilliant, but because they were happy; and when people are
happy they do honor to very indifferent jests.

But Bee turned a ludicrously appalled look upon her lover and
whispered:

"Oh, Ishmael! suppose he had known about that little bit of white
cambric. He would have said that I had 'thrown the handkerchief' to
you! And so I did! it is a dreadful reflection!"