s Tom was to have joined Mr. Adam and herself an
hour ago The bell began to ring, and all the gathering rustled loudly.
"She's coming--she's coming?" whispered Vinie, and Adam, "Why, of
course, of course, little partridge. Now don't you cry--you'll be
walking up Saint Margaret's aisle yourself some day!"

The bell ceased to ring. Lewis Rand came from the vestry and stood
beside the chancel rail. A sound at the door, a universal turning as
though the wind bent every flower in a garden--and Jacqueline Churchill
came up the aisle between the coloured lines. Her hand was upon the arm
of her father's schoolmate; Unity and Deb followed her. Rand met her at
the altar, and the old clergyman who had baptized her married them. It
was over, from the "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here together," to
the "Until Death shall them part!" Lewis and Jacqueline Rand wrote their
names in the register, then turned to receive the congratulations of
those who crowded around them, to smile, and say the expected thing.
Rand stooped and kissed Deb, wrung Mrs. Selden's hand, then held out his
own to Unity with something of appeal in his gesture and his eyes. Miss
Dandridge promptly laid her hand in his, and looked at him with her
frank and brilliant gaze. "Now that we are cousins," she said, "I do not
find you a monster at all. Make her happy, and one day we'll all be
friends." "I will--I will!" answered Rand, with emotion, pressed her
hand warmly, and was claimed by others of his wedding guests.
Jacqueline, too, had clung at first to Unity and Deb and Cousin Jane
Selden, but now she also turned from the old life to the new, and
greeted with a smiling face the people of her husband's party. Many, of
course, she knew; only a difference of opinion stood between them and
the Churchills; but others were strangers to her--strangers and curious.
She felt it in the touch of their hands, in the stare of their eyes, and
her heart was vaguely troubled. She saw her old dancing master,
tiptoeing on the edge of the throng, and her smile brought Mr.
Pincornet, his green velvet and powdered wig, to her side. He put his
hand to his heart and bowed as to a princess.

"Ha! Mr. Pincornet," exclaimed Rand, "I remember our night at Monticello.
Now I have a teacher who will be with me always!--Jacqueline, I want you
to speak to my old friend, Adam Gaudylock."

"Ah, I know Mr. Gaudylock," answered Jacqueline, and gave the hunter
both her hands. "We all know and adm