had finished dressing herself, and now spoke to her daughter,
who was still in her nightgown, reclining back in the chair.

"Odalite, you need not exert yourself to come down, dear. I will send you
something up here. What shall it be?"

"Anything you like, mamma," languidly replied the girl.

The lady left the chamber and went down to the dining room, where she
found all the family, with the exception of the bride-elect, assembled.

The bridegroom-expectant, who was still a member of the household,
advanced politely, greeted his prospective mother-in-law and led her to
her seat at the head of the table.

"Where is Odalite?" inquired Mr. Force, as he took his seat at the foot.

"I have left her in my apartment. She must not fatigue herself by making
two toilets. I shall send her breakfast up," replied the lady.

"I hope she is quite well this morning?" said Col. Anglesea.

"Quite well," replied the lady.

And when she had served all her circle with coffee, tea, or cocoa, she
called a servant to bring a waiter, and she prepared and sent up a dainty
little repast to her daughter.

"The carriages will be at the door by ten o'clock, my dears, so you will
please to be ready. It will take us full an hour to drive to All Faith. I
hope the church will be well warmed," said the father of the family, as
they all arose from the table.

"We will be ready in time," replied Mrs. Force, as they passed out of the
dining room.

Leonidas Force looked so white and grim that little Elva paused behind the
rest to speak to him.

"Le! Le! what's the matter? I do believe you do care, after all."

"Hush, Elva," said the youth, in a whisper.

"Le! if you do care, you can forbid the banns, on account of that
engagement of yours. You can, indeed! Wynnette and I have been reading
over the marriage service in the prayer book, and there is a place where
it says, 'If any man here present can show cause'----You know why it
shouldn't be done, it wouldn't be done, and there an end! And I am sure
you could show cause, Le!"

"Yes, dear; but I won't!" Le replied.

"Elva! If you don't stir your stumps--I mean hurry up--you won't be ready
in time!" called Wynnette, from the bannister above.

Elva broke away, and ran upstairs.

And then began the toil of the toilets.

Every bedchamber was occupied as a dressing room.

Col. Anglesea, under the hands of his valet, was preparing himself in his
own apartment.

Le, in his little den, was d