boy you are! I hadn't an inkling it had happened." She raised her face to kiss him, but he drew back.
"Not on the front steps. Keep that for later."
"That's so like you," she protested. "No one can see us. Anyway, Gordon, consider yourself kissed, and I do congratulate you, my dear, and I'm happy if you are. Does mother know?"
"Oh, yes. She's delighted, of course."
Noel put his hand on Gordon's shoulder.
"I'm awfully glad, Gordon old man."
"Thanks." He went down the steps and hailed a taxi that was crawling toward them. "I'd have told you before," he said over his shoulder, "only we don't keep the same hours. Never sure of seeing you. Well, so long!"
The taxi door shut with a bang that echoed loudly in the quiet square, and he was off.
"Isn't that Gordon all over?" asked Noel.
As Judy entered the hall she gave a little laugh that was almost a sob, and said:
"Thank God for you, Noel!"
