whom some had judged
much too forward and instructed in the world's ways!--with her erect
head and elastic footstep she was walking among illusions; and yet,
too, there was an under-consciousness of her that she was a little
intoxicated.

"Thank God you bear it so well, my darling!" said Mrs. Davilow, when
she had helped Gwendolen to doff her bridal white and put on her
traveling dress. All the trembling had been done by the poor mother,
and her agitation urged Gwendolen doubly to take the morning as if it
were a triumph.

"Why, you might have said that, if I had been going to Mrs. Mompert's,
you dear, sad, incorrigible mamma!" said Gwendolen just putting her
hands to her mother's cheeks with laughing tenderness--then retreating
a little and spreading out her arms as if to exhibit herself: "Here am
I--Mrs. Grandcourt! what else would you have me, but what I am sure to
be? You know you were ready to die with vexation when you thought that
I would not be Mrs. Grandcourt."

"Hush, hush, my child, for heaven's sake!" said Mrs. Davilow, almost in
a whisper. "How can I help feeling it when I am parting from you. But I
can bear anything gladly if you are happy."

"Not gladly, mamma, no!" said Gwendolen, shaking her head, with a
bright smile. "Willingly you would bear it, but always sorrowfully.
Sorrowing is your sauce; you can take nothing without it." Then,
clasping her mother's shoulders and raining kisses first on one cheek
and then on the other between her words, she said, gaily, "And you
shall sorrow over my having everything at my beck---and enjoying
everything glorious--splendid houses--and horses--and diamonds, I shall
have diamonds--and going to court--and being Lady Certainly--and Lady
Perhaps--and grand here--and tantivy there--and always loving you
better than anybody else in the world."

"My sweet child!--But I shall not be jealous if you love your husband
better; and he will expect to be first."

Gwendolen thrust out her lips and chin with a pretty grimace, saying,
"Rather a ridiculous expectation. However, I don't mean to treat him
ill, unless he deserves it."

Then the two fell into a clinging embrace, and Gwendolen could not
hinder a rising sob when she said, "I wish you were going with me,
mamma."

But the slight dew on her long eyelashes only made her the more
charming when she gave her hand to Grandcourt to be led to the carriage.

The rector looked in on her to give a final "Good-bye; God bles