"It's a lovely thing."
"What's the kind of good that it does?"
"It makes us better."
"Yes, but--but in what ways is a feller better?"
"Oh, in every way."
"Can he play ball any better?"
"I guess so."
"Is a married feller stronger and can he run faster than the feller
that isn't married?"
"Oh, yes."
"Well, that's a good deal. Does it take long to have it done?"
"Just a few minutes."
As a new suspicion entered the mind of the prospective groom he edged
away a few inches. "Does it hurt?"
"What hurt?"
"Getting married. Does a dentist do it--or something like that?"
Contemptuously the maiden answered. "'Course not! You are a very
ignorant boy. We just stand up before father and say 'I will,' and
'Yes' and 'It is' or 'I do' and short things like that. Father does all
the rest."
Then Ruth explained the ceremony, and described minutely the scene she
had witnessed an hour ago in her own home.
"That's easy enough," said Cyrus. "Anybody can say those things."
"Everybody does it," said Ruth.
Cyrus smiled; it seemed a smile of relief. "That's funny. I'd always
thought being married was kind of important, and kind of--kind
of--lasted a mighty long time."
"It does. It lasts forever. That is why it is so beautiful and lovely.
Everybody is better forever and ever."