r Newcome had lost his temporary gleam of
brightness and had settled down into the old solemn ways which made him
so different from other young men of his age. The previous night was
not the only occasion on which Lettice had seemed weary and dispirited
after a _tete-a-tete_ with her lover, but she showed plenty of interest
in the selection of her _trousseau_ and in the equipment of the handsome
house which Mr Newcome was preparing for his bride.

By the middle of August dressmakers and upholsterers had received the
necessary instructions, and could be left to complete their work, while
the tired little bride-elect went north to recoup her energies. How
glad she was to escape from London only Lettice herself knew; while at
Cloudsdale, the whole house was turned upside down in excitement at the
prospect of her arrival. Lettice, as an engaged young lady, a bride on
the eve of her marriage, had assumed a position of vast importance in
her sisters' eyes, and the questions as to how she would look, how she
would bear herself, formed the subject of many lengthy discussions.

The hour came at last. Lettice was once more among them. She came
rushing in, in the old impetuous way, kissing everyone in turns, and
exclaiming in delight at being once more at home. There had never been
any unpleasantness connected with Lettice's home-comings. Though she
had lived in the lap of luxury for the last three years, she was utterly
unspoiled by its influence, and so far from being dissatisfied with her
own home, seemed to take an affectionate delight in finding it unchanged
in every particular. Her sisters followed her from room to room,
listening with smiles to her ecstatic exclamations.

"Oh, how nice it looks--the dear old place! What a sweet, sweet smell
of mignonette! Oh, look at the old red table-cloth, and the ink-stain
in the corner, where I upset the bottle. Oh, how lovely to see it all
again! And the dear old sofa where we used to camp out all together--I
have never found such a comfy sofa anywhere else. Tea! How pretty the
urn looks! I love that cheerful, hissing sound! And what cream! You
never see cream like that in London."

She was all smiles and dimples, and though decidedly thinner, the flush
upon her cheeks made her look so bright and well that she was a picture
of a radiant young bride. Hilary and Norah watched her with fascinated
eyes as she flitted about the room, or lay back in the chintz-covered
ch