ed and flagged, the bells ring-ing, and all
your tenants and retainers out to meet you."

"We intend to get into our own home without anyone being aware of it.
Come, Tyrrel, my dressmaker is waiting, I know. It is my wedding gown,
dear Granny, and oh, so lovely!"

"You will not be any smarter than I intend to be, miss. You are shut off
from color. I can outdo you."

"I am sure you can--and will. Here comes father. What can he want?" They
met him at the door, and with a few laughing words left him with Madam.
She looked curiously into his face and asked, "What is it, Edward?"

"I suppose they have told you all the arrangements. They are very
simple. Did they say anything about Ruth?"

"They never named her. They said they were going to Washington for a
week, and then to Rawdon Court. Ruth seems out of it all. Are you going
to turn her adrift, or present her with a few thousand dollars? She has
been a mother to Ethel. Something ought to be done for Ruth Bayard."

"I intend to marry her."

"I thought so."

"She will go to her sister's in Philadelphia for a month 's preparation.
I shall marry her there, and bring her home as my wife. She is a sweet,
gentle, docile woman. She will make me happy."

"Sweet, gentle, docile! Yes, that is the style of wife Rawdon men
prefer. What does Ethel say?"

"She is delighted. It was her idea. I was much pleased with her
thoughtfulness. Any serious break in my life would now be a great
discomfort. You need not look so satirical, mother; I thought of Ruth's
life also."

"Also an afterthought; but Ruth is gentle and docile, and she is
satisfied, and I am satisfied, so then everything is proper and everyone
content. Come for me at ten on Wednesday morning. I shall be ready. No
refreshments, I suppose. I must look after my own breakfast. Won't you
feel a bit shabby, Edward?" And then the look and handclasp between them
turned every word into sweetness and good-will.

And as Ethel regarded her marriage rather as a religious rite than
a social function, she objected to its details becoming in any sense
public, and her desires were to be regarded. Yet everyone may imagine
the white loveliness of the bride, the joy of the bridegroom, the
calm happiness of the family breakfast, and the leisurely, quiet
leave-taking. The whole ceremony was the right note struck at the
beginning of a new life, and they might justly expect it would move
onward in melodious sequence.

Within three wee