"Doesn't this look familiar to you, honey?" asked Ethan, surveying the meadow.
Ginny plowed through the tall grass behind him. "Mr. Clark, I warned you not to bring that up!" she said with a stern look. Ethan had a mischievous glint in his eyes. Ginny could tell what he was thinking. "Stop it!" she commanded and glanced over her shoulder. "Mind the family!" A wide grin appeared on Ethan's face. "I said 'stop it!'" insisted Ginny while her face turned red. Ethan winked at her instead.
"Oooh! Now you're asking for it!"
Ginny rushed towards Ethan and gave him a push. It did not have much effect, aside from making him laugh. Ginny took a few steps back to gain momentum for her next attempt, but Ethan evaded her. He dashed off, prompting Ginny to chase him.
From a distance, Lizzy called out with excitement, "Get him, Ginny!"
"Hush, silly!" commanded Abby, standing next to her younger sister.
Further down the field, Ethan stopped and turned around. Ginny caught up with him and slapped him. "Ow, ow, it tickles!" cried Ethan. He fell down, laughing with tears. Ginny swooped down on Ethan and banged his chest with her fists. "There's a... little mouse... jumping on me!" he exclaimed, almost out of breath.
The older Mrs. Clark observed the scene from the picnic blanket. "Who would have thought our Ethan and your Virginia would make such a nice, young couple?" she asked.
"You know what they say: 'Life is full of surprises.'" answered Mrs. Greene, before taking a sip of her tea. "I suppose you are also looking forward to the fruits of this marriage?"
"Indeed, I am." replied Mrs. Clark. "As you know, Ethan is my only child. For years I feared I had been too lenient with him in his upbringing, considering his previous behavior... I'm sure you know what I'm referring to. I must say married life becomes him rather well. Virginia keeps a tight leash on him."
"Well, I'm sure it's not just the marriage," said the older Mr. Clark.
"Oh, you know so much!" his wife scoffed at him.
"It's the lot of us men, that leash is," said Mr. Greene.
"As well it should be," agreed Mrs. Greene.
"Oh, where have they gone off to now?" asked Lizzy. "I don't hear them anymore. It's all gone dead quiet!"
"Sit down, Elizabeth. You too, Abigale," commanded Mr. Greene. "Give your sister some privacy."
Abby gasped. "Father! You don't mean...?"
Mr. Greene confirmed his daughter's suspicions by giving her a stern look, causing the girl to cover her mouth and blush.
"What? How would you know such a thing if you can't see them?" asked Lizzy.
"Don't ask silly questions now, Lizzy. They're married. That's all we need to know," said Mrs. Greene. "Besides, it's only been a month."
"Ah, yes," said Mr. Clark. "I remember when Isabell and I first got married, we used to --" He was cut off when his wife elbowed him in the ribs.
Mrs. Clark ignored the questioning glances from the Greene sisters and resumed sipping her tea, although she could not help herself from blushing. Mr. Clark was amused to see that. Mr. and Mrs. Greene shared a knowing glance, but thought it wise to hold their tongue.
Lizzy broke the silence. "I noticed there's a game they play. Ethan will stand in the doorway and won't let Ginny pass unless she pays the highwayman. And then she kisses him! Can you imagine living like that, Abby? Not being able to go from one room to another without kissing a man?"
"No. I cannot imagine such a thing since I've never kissed a man. And neither have you, so don't be so dramatic. Ginny doesn't seem to mind anyway," said Abby.
"I wonder what it's like to kiss a man," said Lizzy. "I mean a nice, young man. Not an old one like Ethan, even if he is good-looking."
"Ethan's not old, you silly goose!" said Abby.
"He is to me!" argued Lizzy.
"Oh, hush! Young men your age can't kiss all that well," said Abby. "They lack experience... or so I've heard."
"Ginny had no experience, but Ethan seems to like the way she kisses!" replied Lizzy.
"That's because it's the man who leads the woman," said Abby. "That goes for dancing as well as kissing and..." Abby blushed, unable to finish the sentence.
"Oh, what word to use?" asked Lizzy, rolling her eyes.
"You see what I have to deal with every day?" Mr. Greene asked the Clarks. "I do miss having Virginia in the house, but with these two... there's never a dull moment!"
"I had hoped they'd calm down once they got older, but it seems they've only changed the subject," added Mrs. Greene, giving her daughters a stern look.
"Ha, I suppose Windfarn is too small for such excitable young ladies," said Mr. Clark. "Too little happens here to keep their busy minds occupied with much else."
"What a sensible thing to say, Jonathan," said Mrs. Clark. "Now you simply must invite them over to your cousin in Northfair."
"Northfair?" both girls asked at once.
"Why, certainly," said Mr. Clark. "Albert, my cousin in Northfair, is rather keen on birthday parties. He celebrates his own by throwing a dance for all his family and friends as well as everybody they know. We don't go every year since it's a week's travel, but it's a nice way to get to know people. I'm sure Ethan will want everybody to meet his new wife, and it would be a nice change of scenery for Abigale and Elizabeth. With Mr. Greene's permission, of course."
"Oh, father! Please, can we go?" asked Lizzy.
"Yes, father! You'll finally have some peace and quiet in the house with us gone!" said Abby.
"Oh, I don't know," said Mr. Greene. "It sounds very fancy and all. I trust Virginia to make a good impression. However, Abigale and Elizabeth... still have some growing up to do."
"Father! Certainly you only meant Lizzy!" cried Abby.
"No, we're both of age! You simply must let us go, father!" pleaded Lizzy.
Mr. Greene sighed. "Prove to me you can behave like perfect young ladies and I will consider it."
Abby and Lizzy jumped up and down, screaming and giggling with excitement.
"Starting now!" bellowed Mr. Greene.
The girls were quiet at once and sat down on their knees.
"Would you like some sugar in your tea, Elizabeth?" asked Abby.
