“I would,” said Mrs. Easterfield, but her expression did not indicate that she expected Olive’s announcement to give her any pleasure.

“I have been considering it all the morning,” said Olive, “and I have determined to marry without delay.  The greatest object of my life at present is to write to my father that I am married.  I don’t wish to tell him anything until I can tell him that.  I would also be glad to be able to send the same message to the toll-gate house, but I don’t suppose it will make much difference there.”

“Do you think,” said Mrs. Easterfield, “that my inviting you here made all this trouble?”

“No,” said Olive.  “It was not the immediate cause, but uncle knows I do not like that woman, and she doesn’t like me, and it would not have suited him to have me stay very much longer with him.  I thought at first he was glad to have me go on account of Mr. Lancaster, but now I do not believe that had anything to do with it.  He did not want me with him, and what that woman came here and told me about his not expecting me back again was, I now believe, a roundabout message from him.”

“Now, Olive,” said Mrs. Easterfield, “it would be a great deal better for you to stop all this imagining until you hear from Mr. Lancaster, if you don’t see him.  Perhaps the poor young man has sprained his ankle, or was prevented in some ordinary way from coming.  But what is this nonsense about getting married?”

“There is no nonsense about it,” said Olive.  “I am going to marry, but I have not chosen any one yet.”

Mrs. Easterfield uttered an exclamation of horror.  “Choose!” she exclaimed.  “What have you to do with choosing?  I don’t think you are much like other girls, but I did think you had enough womanly qualities to make you wait until you are chosen.”

“I intend to wait until I am chosen,” said Olive, “but I shall choose the person who is to choose me.  I have always thought it absurd for a young woman to sit and wait and wait until some one comes and sees fit to propose to her.  Even under ordinary circumstances, I think the young woman has not a fair chance to get what she wants.  But my case is extraordinary, and I can’t afford to wait; and as I don’t want to go out into the world to look for a husband, I am going to take one of these young men here.”

“Olive,” cried Mrs. Easterfield, “you don’t mean you are going to marry Mr. Locker?”

“You forget,” said Olive, “that I told you I have not made up my mind yet.  But although I have not come to a decision, I have a leaning toward one of them.  The more I think of it the more I incline in the direction of my old love.”

“Mr. Hemphill!” exclaimed Mrs. Easterfield.  “Olive, you are crazy, or else you are joking in a very disagreeable manner.  There could be no one more unfit for you than he is.”