I mean a marble statue, and never winked. But as you stood there
a beautiful thought came to me. I understood precisely why the name of
'Reddy' was appropriate to you. The electric light shone softly down
upon your gleaming Titian locks, as though to call attention to their
crimson glory. There was a look of--"

"Nora, if you value the life of your husband, remove him," broke in
David Nesbit decisively. "Reddy is trying to behave with the becoming
dignity of a newly-wed, and I appeal to you, how can he?"

"He can't," agreed Nora. "I'll remove the obstacle at once."

"You'll have to use strategy to do it," announced Hippy.

"'Come one, come all, this rock shall fly From its firm base as soon as
I!'"

he quoted determinedly, with jerky little gestures. Planting himself
behind Jessica, he caught up a corner of her veil and peered defiantly
through it at David.

"You haven't seen the bride's table in the tent yet, have you, Hippy?"
inquired Grace innocently. "It looks so pretty."

"The bride's table!" Hippy's defiant face broke into an expansive,
affable grin. "No, but I'd love to see it. Show it to me, instantly."

"I'll take charge of him, Grace," interposed Nora. "If he inspects the
refreshment tent it must be under guard."

"I've changed my mind. I don't care to see it. I'd rather stay here and
offer a few more congratulations to Reddy. Grace's strategy was very
clever, but Nora's bullying is all wrong. I won't be taken charge of."

But in spite of his vigorous protests Nora slipped her arm through his
and piloted him in the direction of the huge refreshment tent which had
been erected on the lawn. There the wedding supper was to be served by
caterers at small tables.

"What a treasure Hippy is," said Anne, as the group of young people
smilingly watched Hippy and Nora out of sight. "He is so funny and nice
that he takes away that half-sad feeling that one almost always has at a
wedding. I am sure I don't know why seeing two friends made happy should
inspire one with a desire to cry, but it does."

"Weddings and commencements are always more or less solemn and
productive of weeps," answered Grace. "Remember not one of us is going
to shed a tear when Jessica leaves us. This has been such a sweet, happy
wedding that we mustn't spoil its gladness. Of course, I can't imagine
you boys lifting up your voices in lamentation, but I'm not so sure of
the feminine half of the Eight Originals."

"I couldn't help cryi