"Joseph!" I gasped (I had lost all fear of him), "you ridiculous old
goose, don't you _know_ me? _I_ am Gloriana, and I have found you at
last!" And with that I flung myself into his arms, and told him
everything. I think he was more relieved than anything. "So _you_ are
Gloriana!" he said. "It's dreadfully bewildering; but, to tell you the
honest truth, I can't keep up this villainy business any longer. I
haven't been brought up to it, and I don't understand how it's done. So
I tell you what we'll do. If you'll leave off living up to _your_ new
head, I won't try to live up to _mine_!" And so we settled it.
_Postscript. December 31._--We are to be married to-morrow. The Dutch
Doll is to be my bridesmaid, and the Wooden Captain (who was only away
on sick leave, after all) is coming up to be best man. I have seen the
poor old Ball, and told him there will always be a corner for him in our
new home. I am very, _very_ happy. To think that Joseph should still
care for his poor Gloriana, altered and homely as her once lovely
features have now become! But Joseph (who is leaning over my shoulder
and reading every word I write) stops me here to assure me that I am
lovelier than ever in _his_ eyes. And really--I don't know--perhaps I
_am_. And in _other_ persons' eyes, too, if it comes to that. I
certainly don't intend to give up society just because I happen to be
_married_!
[Illustration]