from the waiting
guests. Her costume had been copied from an old painting, and emphasized
her likeness to those medieval Venetian beauties whose blood ran in her
veins. Her veil was caught back, cap-fashion, from her face, then fell
to her feet. The silken thinness of her gown was weighted with silver
embroideries.

Slightly to the left of the officiating clergyman was a screen of white
roses. As Bettina advanced, the screen was set aside, and showed Justin,
in a big chair, pale and smiling, and seeing only his bride as she came
toward him.

Standing by her lover's side, Bettina gave the responses clearly. And
when he placed on her finger the little silver ring, it was she who bent
and kissed him.

As soon as the ceremony was over, the bridegroom was whisked away, to be
followed by the bride when she had cut the wedding cake.

In the library at the head of the stairs she found him. He was on his
feet, unsupported, and looking expectantly toward the door.

She gave a little cry. "Justin, you must not----!"

He laughed and held out his arms to her. "Anthony said I might. Just to
show you. He didn't quite dare for the wedding. But I want you to know
that you are not marrying--a broken reed--dearest."

She looked up at him. "How good it seemed," she whispered, "to see your
face above mine. I--I am just as high as your heart--Justin."

* * * * *

Snow over the harbor. Snow, too, at Harbor Light.

Anthony's patients, warmly housed, were busy with Christmas work. Women
who had always bought perfunctory Christmas presents, and to whom the
holiday season had meant merely a weary round of shopping, bent eagerly
over the bit of pottery or of weaving which was to carry a message of
peace and good will. Men, whose gift-giving had lost all of its precious
meanings, were carving quaint weather-vanes and toys with infinite
pains, and reveling in their skill.

Diana, moving from one to the other, encouraged and suggested.

"I am so glad we worked out that mistletoe design for the pottery and
the holly for the little white rugs," she said; "it makes the work so
much more interesting."

"It is you who makes the work interesting," said her adoring husband who
was at her elbow. "Don't you ever wish for anything else? Wouldn't you
like to be down South with Justin and Betty--with purple seas and
cocoanut palms and tennis and golf and good times?"

"I'd rather be here with you. Every time you co