ing.

* * * * * *

In her capacity of sole bridesmaid Nan followed Penelope's tall,
white-clad figure up the aisle. Each step they made was taking her
friend further away from her--nearer to the man whom the next half-hour
would make her husband. With a swift leap of the imagination, she
visioned herself in Penelope's place, leaning on Lord St. John's
arm--and the man who waited for her at the chancel steps was Roger!
She swayed a moment, then by an immense effort forced herself back to
the reality of things, following steadily once more in the wake of her
uncle and Penelope.

There seemed to her something dream-like in their slow progression.
The atmosphere was heavy with the scent of flowers, a sea of blurred
faces loomed up at her from the pews on either side, and the young,
sweet voices of the choristers soared high above the organ. She stole
a glance at her uncle. He looked frailer than usual, she thought, with
a sudden pang of apprehension; perhaps the heat of the summer had told
upon him a little. Then her gaze ran on to where the bridegroom stood,
the tall altar-lights flickering behind him, his face turned towards
the body of the church, and his eyes, very bright and steady, resting
on Penelope as she approached.

He stepped forward quickly as she neared the chancel and Nan saw that a
smile passed between them as he took his place beside her. A feeling
of reassurance crept over her, quieting the sense of almost breathless
panic which had for a moment overwhelmed her when she had pictured
herself in Penny's place. There was dear old Ralph, looking quite
ordinary and matter-of-fact, only rather sprucer than usual in his
brand-new wedding garments. The feeling of reassurance deepened.
Marriage wasn't so appalling. Good heavens! Dozens of people were
married every day and she was quite sure they were not all wildly in
love with each other.

Then the service commenced and the soft rise and fall of responsive
voices murmured through the church a little space. . . .

It was over very quickly--Nan almost gasped to find how astonishingly
short a time it takes to settle one of the biggest things in life. In
a few minutes the scented dimness of the church was exchanged for the
pale gold of the autumn sunlight, the hush of prayer for the throb of
waiting cars.

Later still, when the afternoon was spent, came the last handshakings
and kisses. A rising chorus of good wish