nce. One could almost seem to see
the kisses of love upon it. George acted a little perturbed at sight
of Maria. He remained silent during Lily's torrent of regrets and
remonstrances, but he followed Maria to the door and said to her how
sorry he was that her father was ill.

"I hope it is nothing serious," he said.

"Thank you," said Maria. "I hope not, but I don't think my father is
very strong, and I feel that I ought to go."

"Of course," said George. "We shall be sorry to miss you, but, if
your father is ill, you ought to go."

"Do you think one day would make any difference?" said Lily,
pleadingly, putting up her lovely face at Maria.

"It would mean three days, you know, dear," Maria said.

"Of course it would," said George; "and Miss Edgham is entirely
right, Lily."

"I don't want Fanny Ellwell one bit for maid of honor," Lily said,
poutingly.

Maria did not pay any attention. She was thinking anxiously of her
father. She realized that he must be very ill or he would not have
written her as he had done. It was not like Harry Edgham to deprive
any one of any prospective pleasure, and he had no reason to think
that being maid of honor at this wedding was anything but a pleasure
to Maria. She felt that the illness must be something serious. Her
school was to close in three days, and she was almost too impatient
to wait.

"Ida Edgham ought to be ashamed of herself for not writing and
letting you know that your father was sick before," said Aunt Maria.
"She and Lily Merrill are about of a piece."

"Maybe father didn't want her to," said Maria. "Father knew my school
didn't close until next Thursday. If I thought he was very ill I
would try to get a substitute and start off before."

"But I know your father wouldn't have written for you to come unless
he wasn't well and wanted to see you," said Aunt Maria. "I shouldn't
be a mite surprised, too, if he suspected that Ida would write you
not to come, and thought he'd get ahead of her."

Aunt Maria was right. In the next mail came a letter from Ida, saying
that she supposed Maria would not think she could come home for such
a short vacation, especially a she had to stay a little longer in
Amity for the wedding, and how sorry they all were, and how they
should look forward to the long summer vacation.

"She doesn't say a word about father's being ill," said Maria.

"Of course she doesn't! She knew perfectly well that if she did you
would go home whether