Red Wilkes looked at his father hopefully. "Shall I, Pop?" he asked.
And Sam Wilkes shook his head. "No, son. It ain't fittin'. Not on your
wedding day."
Which gave Dick an idea. He rose, grimly.
"It's not _my_ wedding day!" he said. "Wade--"
But somehow Mr. Wade had vanished. Toward the ship.
* * * * *
Afterward, Colonel Travers lingered to shake hands all around.
"I commend you both," he said, "for the fine spirit you have shown; the
fine work you've done in making Eros a member of the Solar family. You
prove what I have always claimed--that the pioneer spirit in Man is not
dead, nor will it ever die so long as there remain new frontiers to
conquer.
"Well, I must go now. But I'll stop back by here on my next swing
around the Belt. Perhaps a year from now, perhaps a little less. I'll
bring the things you ask for. A new motor, some cloth, silverware--I
have your list."
"Don't forget the books," said Pop.
"I won't." The Captain made a note.
"And the seeds." That was Old Man Wilkes.
"No. I'll bring them."
"And bring," said Moira, "a teething ring."
Eleanor said, "Oh, nonsense, Moira! In another year The Pooch will be
too old for teething rings."
"Bring," said Moira doggedly, "a teething ring." And blushed.
Bobby blushed, too. It was, he thought, indecent of Moira to be so
brazen. And her only married! Golly, did she have to look so far ahead?
And, anyway, with Ginger standing right there....