r, if this
must stand"--and he read from the deed--"'all property now invested
in the Three per Cents.'--Oh, oh!" Major Harper shook his head, with a
deep-drawn sigh of miserable irresolution.

Yet there lay the parchment, sickening him with its prevaricating if
not lying face; and his invisible good angel kept pulling him on one
side--nay, at last pulled him halfway across the room to where, absorbed
in a reverie--pardonable under the circumstances--his brother sat.

"Nathanael, pray get out of that brown study, and have five minutes'
talk with me. If you only knew the annoyance I have endured all this
week concerning Agatha's fortune! How thankful I shall be to transfer it
from my hands into yours."

"Oh, yes!" said the lover, rather absently.

"And I hope it will give you less trouble and more reward than it has
given me," continued the elder brother, still anxiously beating about
the bush, ere he came to a direct confession. "I declare, I have been as
anxious for the young lady's benefit as if I had intended marrying her
myself."

The bridegroom's quick, fiery glance showed Major Harper that he had
gone a little too far, even in privileged jesting.

But happily Nathanael had heard the door open. He hastily went forward
and met his bride. With her were Mr. and Mrs. Thornycroft, Dr. and Mrs.
Ianson, and another lady. The latter quickly passed out of the immediate
circle, and sat down in a retired corner of the room.

Agatha looked pale and worn out, which was no wonder, considering that
for several days she had endured, morning, noon, and night, all the
wearisome preparations which the kind-hearted Emma deemed indispensable
to "a really nice wedding." But her betrothed noticed her paleness with
troubled eyes.

"You are not ill, my darling?"

"No," said Agatha, abruptly, blushing lest any one should hear the
tender word, which none had ever used to her before, and blushing still
deeper when, meeting Major Harper's anxious looks fixed on them both,
she fancied he had heard. A foolish sensitiveness made her turn away
from her lover, and talk to the first person who came in her way.

Meanwhile Mr. Thornycroft and Dr. Ianson, with a knowledge that time was
precious, had gone at once to the business of the meeting, and were
deep in perusal of the marriage-settlement of which they were to be
witnesses.

"Why, Miss Bowen, you are a richer girl than I knew," said Emma's worthy
husband, coming forward, with his ro