it, and he knew it was to-day."

"You are going as one of the friends?"

"Yes, Miss Jerrold asked me," said Guest, rather consciously; "and of
course he would have known afterward, and reproached me for not telling
him. What is to be done?"

"Certainly not thwart him," replied Brettison. "I was going out into
the country to-day."

"Collecting?"

"Yes, my dear sir, a little. My great hobby, Mr Guest. But I will not
go. We should do more harm than good by stopping him, so I'll go to the
church with him."

"But I dread a scene," said Guest. "Suppose he should turn wild at
seeing her lead up the aisle. Fancy the consequences. It would be
cruel to the lady. It is not as if she had jilted him."

"Never cared for him a bit, did she?" whispered Brettison.

"H'm! Well, sir, I don't quite like to say. At all events, Miss Myra
Jerrold accepted this Mr Barron before poor old Malcolm spoke a word,
and I am convinced that she felt certain he did not care for her."

"An unfortunate business, Guest. Poor lad! poor lad! But there, he
recovered, and any opposition would, I am sure, throw him back."

"But the lady?"

"Have no fear; Malcolm Stratton will, I am sure, be guilty of no insane
folly. I know him better than you, Guest."

"I think not," said the young man, smiling.

"We will not argue the point," replied the old botanist, taking Guest's
hand. "We both think we know him better than anyone else, and after all
have not half sounded the depths of his nature."

"Well, I leave him to you," said Guest. "I have no time to spare. I'm
off now, old fellow," he cried, approaching the bedroom door.

"All right," cried Stratton cheerfully as he came back and held out his
hand. "My kindest regards to Edie. Don't be afraid, old fellow; I am
going to behave sensibly. You need not fear a scene."

"But I--"

"Don't deny it, lad. Off with you," said Stratton, smiling at his
friend's confusion; and he accompanied him out on to the landing. "God
bless her!" he said. "I wish her every happiness with the man of her
choice. It's all over now, and I can bear it like a man."

They shook hands and parted, and when, an hour later, Guest saw Myra
enter the room, where he was just snatching a hurried word with Edie, he
was startled at the white, set face, and strange, dreamy eyes, which
looked in his when he spoke to her.

But what had been a bitter fight was at an end, and all its secrets
hidden in the bride's o