around the desk, and
from the background poor Miss Bruce looked on with widened eyes.

Cassandra came forward to shake hands with Mrs Evans, the natural
hostess of the occasion.

"Good morning, Mrs Evans. How busy you all are! I drove down with the
flowers, and brought Mrs Beverley with me. The groom is bringing them
in. We promised Miss Mallison--"

She looked around, caught sight of Teresa and Peignton standing side by
side, and nodded, faintly smiling. The affair was progressing then! No
need for outside help. Teresa, flushed and happy, the blue of her
blouse setting off the pink and white of her complexion, looked her most
attractive self. Cassandra envied her, pitied her, felt an inexplicable
irritation with her, all at the same moment, but being bred in the
school which considers the suppression of feeling to be the first axiom
of good manners, her smile of greeting remained unchanged.

The vases for the altar had been carried into a vestry, where they stood
on a table ready to be filled. The groom was directed where to carry
his hamper, and the two visitors followed, talking in undertones to
Teresa and Dane as they went. Inside the room itself there was a
greater sense of freedom, and their voices instantly heightened in tone.
They had an air of having nothing to do, and of being indifferent as to
how long they stayed, which was far from welcome to one at least of the
workers.

Teresa had planned exactly how the vases were to be arranged, and had
anticipated a happy half-hour, alone with Dane, free from the
observation of curious eyes. She was capable of carrying out her own
ideas, and wished for no assistance. It was Peignton who made the
unwelcome suggestion that Cassandra should remain to help.

"I'm out of this!" he said, shrugging. "Never arranged flowers in my
life, and don't know how to begin. Dragging about palms is more in my
line, but that's done now, and I'm no more use. Sorry to be such a
broken reed, Miss Teresa! Perhaps Lady Cassandra--" He looked at
Cassandra, and once again his eyes lightened, as if what they beheld was
good in his sight. "I am sure you know how to arrange flowers!"

"Oh, yes," Cassandra said calmly, "I'm supposed to be quite good. Well,
Teresa, I am at your service. You are in command. Issue your
instructions! Mrs Beverley, you won't mind waiting a short time?"

"Oh, no," Grizel said sweetly. "I'll help too!" She made no motion to
take off her glov