a princess, and in the box
beside it a veil of the same old lace, and in the safe in the corner a
diamond necklace and stars which represented a fortune in themselves!

Could it be, could it really be that all this splendour was for her?
And oh! lucky girl, that she was so happy in love given and received,
that they counted as nothing, and less than nothing, in her rejoicings!
Could it be that to-morrow morning--in twenty-four hours from now--in
less than twenty-four hours, she would be transformed from Nan Rendell
of the coat and skirt--Nan, the third daughter in a large family, in
constant straits for money and anticipation of her dress allowance--into
Nan Vanburgh in satin and diamonds, Mrs Gervase Vanburgh, with her
country seat, her diamonds, her carriages, her expectations of even
greater wealth to come! Oh, wonder of wonders! Oh, fairy tale in real
life! Oh, dear and beautiful prince, to work such marvels in a poor
girl's life! Nan bent down lower and lower until her lips touched the
gleaming folds and her cheek rested lovingly against them, then she drew
the sheet forward once more, and went back to her seat. To think, not
to write, however--to think over the two years that had just passed, and
all the events which they had brought. Had she really loved Gervase
from the beginning, even as he had loved her? It seemed as if she had,
for after that memorable interview in the garden she had known no doubt
nor hesitation. It was right to wait and let time prove the stability
of her feelings, but at the bottom of her heart she had felt no
uncertainty as to her final answer; and oh, how long had seemed the last
three months of the year, with what joy she had hailed July--what a
happy; happy time it had been for all concerned! Mrs Rendell and Maud
had been the only members of the family who had known of the intention
which lay behind Gervase's frequent visits; and if the surprise with
which the engagement was greeted was mingled with some envy and
disappointment from one of the five sisters, the others more than made
up for it by their unaffected delight.

Gervase had long received the sanction of approval; and once assured of
Nan's happiness, it was impossible for the most unworldly of relatives
to restrain a thrill of satisfaction in the grandeur of the alliance.
The schoolroom party was inflated with pride at the thought of "My
sister Mrs Vanburgh," and even Maud tilted her head and smiled with a
complacent