parations for his
marriage with Gladys.

He had at first thought it would be nice if Lawrence and Helen could be
married on the same day, but that was found to be quite impossible as
Lawrence wished to visit his home first, he had also plenty of other
things to attend to before he could be married.

One evening about 10 o'clock, Gladys was seated in her bedroom enjoying
a few minutes quiet before going to bed.

Her maid had already done her hair and she had changed her evening dress
for a warm and comfortable dressing gown. Her room presented rather an
untidy appearance as the dress maker had been there that day to bring
her wedding dress which now lies in a snowy pile at the foot of the bed.

As Gladys sat still by the fire a knock sounded at the door. Before she
could reply the door opened and Helen came in.

"Well Gladys, you seem to be enjoying yourself here all alone" she cried
drawing her chair to the fire beside her friend.

"I was only thinking" replied Gladys with a laugh.

"Of tomorrow I suppose" put in Helen.

"Well to tell the truth I was" answered Gladys with a faint sigh.

"Well you shouldnt sigh" said Helen "only think Gladys, this time
tomorrow you will be Lady Beaufort."

"I know that" said Gladys rather crossly.

"How sad you seem" said Helen in supprise.

"Do I?" enquired Gladys "well perhaps you'll feel the same the night
before your marriage."

"I hope not" answered Helen promptly "oh Gladys" she added quickly "you
never told me where you are going for your honeymoon."

"How silly of me" replied Gladys cheering up "well we are going on the
continent, Mulberry wishes to visit some relations of his in Venice and
then I shall get him to spend a week or go in Naples, Rome, Paris and
other places"

"How lovely!" cried Helen "I do envy you."

"Well wont you do the same at your honeymoon?" asked Gladys.

"No" said Helen "Lawrence and I are going to spend a quiet fortnight at
Ryde in the Isle of Wight."

"Oh I see" said Gladys.

"What time does the important ceremony take place tomorrow" demanded
Helen.

"At 11 o'clock precisely" rejoined Gladys, who possessed the virtue of
punctuality, "at St. Pauls."

"I see" said Helen "and when do you start on your honeymoon?"

"We cross the channel tomorrow night" replied Gladys.

"And Lawrence and I are going to Norfolk" replied Helen.

"Are you really?" asked Gladys.

"Yes Lawrence lives there you know" said Helen "so he thought it wou