Page:The principal girl (IA principalgirl00snai).pdf/191

 "What would you say if Phil-ipp and I were to get married, Granny—quite soon—and we had a sort of a little honeymoon at Brighton with you?"

This was the pickaxe with a vengeance, Miss Mary. Jupiter was very much in the First House this afternoon.

Granny did not say anything immediately. Still, having had a good nap, she sustained the inquiry with admirable composure.

"Very precipitate, my dear, and very unwise, I fear. Have you given sufficient consideration to the Step?"

"We've both thought it over, ma'am," said Mr. Philip, who really felt he was walking on air just now.

"The Step seems singularly unwise to me, Mr. Shelmerdine."

"Why does it, Granny?"

"The reasons, my dear, are many and hardly such as to call for enumeration. In the first place, I understand that Mr. Shelmerdine's family is much opposed to the Match."

"They are bound to come round, ma'am if we give them time," said Mr. Philip.

Grandmamma was not so optimistic.

"Not, of course, Mr. Shelmerdine, if you will permit me to say so, that in the circumstances one regards the sanction of your parents as a sine quâ non."