out for me. I have nothing to inherit there. It would go to my older
brother, anyway. I may follow my own inclination--thank God! And as for
it's being irregular--on the contrary--we are distinguished enough to
have a bishop perform the ceremony. That will be considered a great
thing at home--when they do come to hear of it."

"But it is very sudden, Doctor; I suppose that's why I said irregular."
Betty Towers paused a moment with a little frown, then laughed outright.
"Does Cassandra know she is to be married to-day?"

"She learned the fact yesterday--incidentally--bless her! and her only
objection was a most feminine one. She had no proper dress. She said she
was wearing her best when she found me and--but--I told her the
trousseau was to come later."

Betty rose with impulsive importance. "Well, James, we've so little
time, I must go and help her prepare. And you'll rest now, won't you,
Doctor? You stay up here with him, James, and I'll find some way of
sending your things up."

"Thar's Hoyle; he kin he'p a heap. He kin ride the mule an' tote
anything ye like; and Marthy, I reckon ye kin git her up here on my
horse--hit's thar at her place," said Sally, who had been standing in
the doorway, keenly interested.

When they were alone she said to David: "Hit's a right quare way o'
doin' things--gitt'n married in bed, but if Bishop Towahs do hit, hit
sure must be all right--leastways Cassandry'll think so."

David took the superintendence of the arrangement of his cabin upon
himself, and Hoke Belew, with the bishop's aid, carried out his
directions. One side of his canvas room was rolled to the top, leaving
the place open to the hills and the beauty without. His bed was placed
so that he might face the open space, and that Cassandra could kneel at
his right side. His writing-table, draped with a white cloth and covered
with green hemlock boughs, formed the altar. It was all very quickly and
simply done, and then David lay quiet, with closed eyes, listening to
his musicians in the tree-tops, fluting their own gladness, while Hoke
Belew went down below, and the bishop sat out on the rock and meditated.

Cassandra came up to the cabin alone and sat with David, while the
bishop donned his priestly vestments, and the wedding procession wound
slowly up the trail from the Fall Place, decorously and gravely, clad in
their best. Azalea and Betty came, side by side, the mother rode Sally's
speckled white horse, and little Ho