wn breast. For a time, as it had dawned upon her
that there was something warmer than friendship in her breast for
Malcolm Stratton, she shrank in horror from the idea of pledging herself
to the man she had accepted; but she fought with and crushed down her
feelings. Stratton must, she felt, despise her now, and she was engaged
to Barron. It was her father's wish, and she had promised to be this
man's wife, while that he loved her he gave her no room to doubt.

"I _will_ do my duty by him," she said proudly to herself as she took
her father's arm; and as Guest was driven in another of the carriages to
the church, he thought to himself that his friend had been blind in his
love, for Myra was hard and unemotional as her cousin was sweet and
lovable he misjudged her again as he saw her leave the church leaning
upon her husband's arm, while now he was privileged to escort Edie, one
of the four bridesmaids, back to Bourne Square.

"She never would have cared for poor old Malcolm," he said to himself as
he followed the newly married couple with his eyes, Barron careworn and
nearly as pale as his wife, but looking proud, eager, and handsome, as
he handed Myra into the carriage.

"The happy pair," whispered Edie as she placed her little hand upon
Guest's arm. "Get me to the carriage, please, as quickly as you can, or
I shall cry and make a scene."

"Yes, yes," he whispered back. "This way; but, Edie, I've been looking
all round the church and can't see him. Did you catch sight of
Stratton?"

"No," said the girl with some asperity, "and did not wish to. I could
only see that poor girl going through the ceremony, and I felt all the
time I could read her thoughts. O Percy Guest, if she only had not had
so much pride, or Malcolm Stratton had been as bold as he was shrinking
and strange, this never could have been!"

Back at Bourne Square, with all the hurry and excitement of a wedding
morning. The house crowded with friends, and Sir Mark all eagerness to
do the honours of his place well to all. Carriages thronged the
roadway; a couple of policemen kept back the little crowd, and the
admiral's servants, re-enforced by half a dozen of Gunter's men, had a
busy time supplying the wants of the guests.

"Well, you two," said a voice, suddenly, behind Edie, who was listening
to a remark made by Guest, "don't look in that dreamy way at everyone.
I've been watching you for ever so long. Don't you know that this is
the hap