ut he, to be sure, is still younger than
Mr. Croly by some years."

"It is at two o'clock Aunt Rosie is to be married, then there will be
the wedding feast, and after that the bride and groom will go on a
journey," said Neddie, as if bestowing a piece of valuable information
upon his hearers.

"Yes," said Elsie, "but, as everybody knows it, what's the use of
telling it?"

"I thought perhaps Cousin Donald and Cousin Dick didn't know it--at
least, not all of it," said Ned.

Then his father told him he had talked quite enough, and must be quiet
during the rest of the meal.

"We who are to be the bride's attendants should go over early, I think,"
remarked Lucilla. "At least we, the older ones," she added with a
smiling glance at Elsie; "the little flower girls will not be needed
until somewhat later."

"You may set your own time," her father said. "I will send you and Grace
over in the family carriage, and it can return in full season for the
use of anyone else who desires it. We have a variety of horses and
conveyances, gentlemen, any or all of them at your service at whatever
hour you may appoint," he added, turning to his guests. "There will be
abundance of time for a ride or drive for mere exercise or enjoyment,
before donning your attire for the grand occasion, if you wish to take
it."

Both gentlemen accepted the offer with thanks, and they proceeded to lay
their plans for a gallop together over some of the roads with which Dick
had been familiar in his childhood, but which would be new to Captain
Keith. They set out within an hour after leaving the breakfast table,
and not very long afterward the young girls were on their way to Ion.

They found the house beautifully decorated with flowers from garden and
conservatories, especially the room in which the ceremony was to take
place.

Everybody seemed in a state of subdued excitement, Rosie half gay, half
sad, her eyes filling whenever she turned them upon her mother--the dear
mother who had so loved and cherished her all the days of her life with
such unselfish devotion as no other earthly creature could know; how
could she endure the thought of the impending separation? She could not;
she could only strive to forget it, and keep her mind filled with the
important step now just about to be taken, for she had already gone too
far to retreat even were she sure that she wished to do so. The mother
was scarcely less affected, but with her greater experience of