December, the sky
blue and cloudless, and only the bare blackness of the trees and their
stripped branches testified that winter had come.

"Happy the bride that the sun shines on," says the old proverb, and as
Olivia repeated the saying, she felt her old cheerfulness and buoyancy
return. Marcus had promised to meet them at the church, and to return
with them to Brunswick Place, and her finery would not be thrown away.

It would be of course a very quiet wedding, the only guests would be
the lawyer, Mr. Treherne, an old family friend, who had undertaken to
give the bride away, and Alwyn's best man, a young artist.

As soon as the young couple had partaken of refreshment and Greta had
changed her dress, they were to drive round to Galvaston House on their
way to the station. The brief fortnight's honeymoon was to be spent at
St. Leonards. Mr. Gaythorne had begged that they would not go very far
away, and Alwyn had been reluctant to leave his father for a longer
time.

Olivia had promised to spend the remainder of the day with Mr.
Gaythorne, and, if possible, Marcus was to join them in the evening,
but she had another visit to pay on her way to Brunswick Place, so when
the brougham came round she drove over in solitary state to Maybrick
Villas.

Mrs. Broderick regarded her niece with satisfied eyes. "Why, Livy,"
she said, admiringly, "I have not seen you look so well since your own
wedding-day. Fine feathers make fine birds. You are quite a
striking-looking woman. Marcus will be proud of his wife."

"You must not make me vain," returned Olivia, blushing. She was as
pleased as a child with her beautiful dress. "Look what Alwyn has
given me," and she exhibited a pair of delicate gold bangles. "You
cannot think how smart I feel, for that pretty brooch that Marcus gave
me the day before we were married was my sole piece of jewelry."

Mrs. Broderick smiled. "I am not much richer than you in that respect,
Livy. I never would let Fergus spend his money on trinkets. I told
him I was far too ugly, and that I preferred books. There are only two
handsome rings to come to you, Livy, when I am gone," but Olivia
frowned at this speech. She never could endure to think of anything
happening to Aunt Madge.

Marcus was at the church door to meet her, and there was unmistakable
approval in his eyes as they stood together for a moment in the porch.
And as they walked up the empty church together each was thinking of