a blush; "only I
never should have worried about my own dress, which after all is the
most important, as Alice does about hers."

"Which nobody will look at," Mrs. Dennistoun said.

"I did not say that: but to tell the truth, it is a pity for the girls
that the men will not quite be, just of their world, you know. Oh,
mamma, you know it is not that I think anything of that, but I am sorry
for Alice and Mary. Mr. Bolsover and the other gentlemen will not take
that trouble which country neighbours, or--or John's friends from the
Temple might have done."

"Why do you speak of John's friends from the Temple, Elinor?"

"Mamma! for no reason at all. Why should I? They were the only other men
I could think of."

"Elinor, did John ever give you any reason to think----"

"Mamma," cried Elinor again, with double vehemence, her countenance all
ablaze, "of course he never did! how could you think such foolish
things?"

"Well, my dear," said her mother, "I am very glad he did not; it will
prevent any embarrassment between him and you--for I must always
believe----"

"Don't, please, oh, don't! it would make me miserable; it would take all
my happiness away."

Mrs. Dennistoun said nothing, but she sighed--a very small, infinitesimal
sigh--and there was a moment's silence, during which perhaps that sigh
pervaded the atmosphere with a sort of breath of what might have been.
After a moment she spoke again:

"I hope you have not packed up your ornaments yet, Elinor. You must
leave them to the very last, for Mary would like to see that beautiful
necklace. What do you think you shall wear on the day?"

"Nothing," said Elinor, promptly. She was about to add, "I have nothing
good enough," but paused in time.

"Not my little star? It would look very well, my darling, to fix your
veil on. The diamonds are very good, though perhaps a little
old-fashioned; you might get them reset. But--your father gave it me
like that."

"I would not change it a bit, mamma, for anything in the world."

"Thanks, my dearest. I thought that was how you would feel about it. It
is not very big, of course, but it really is very good."

"Then I will wear it, mamma, if it will please you, but nothing else."

"It would please me: it would be like having something from your father.
I think we had less idea of ornaments in my day. I cannot tell you how
proud I was of my diamond star. I should like to put it in for you
myself, Elinor."

"Oh, mamma!" T