en I shall telephone at once to The Oaks," Mrs. Travilla said, and,
passing out and down to the hall below, she did so. Calling for Maud,
she asked her to come over to Ion at once as she wished to consult her
on an important matter requiring prompt decision; but she would not
detain her long.

Much wondering, Maud replied that she would be there in a few minutes;
the carriage being at the door, and Mr. Dinsmore offering to drive her
over immediately.

Mrs. Travilla gave orders to a servant that on Miss Dinsmore's arrival
she should be brought directly to her boudoir; Mr. Dinsmore might come
also, if he wished; and presently both appeared.

They were warmly greeted by Mrs. Travilla and Mrs. Embury, who was still
with her.

"I have something to show you, Maud, and an offer to make," Elsie said
with a smile, leading the young girl forward and pointing to the dress
and veil disposed about an easy-chair in a way to exhibit them in all
their beauty.

"Oh!" cried Maud, "how lovely! how lovely! I never saw them before.
Whose were they? Where did they come from, Cousin Elsie?"

"I wore them when--when I was married," Elsie answered in low, sad
tones; "they have not been used since, but I will lend them to you, dear
Maud, if you would like to use them for your bridal."

"Oh, Cousin Elsie! wouldn't I? How good, how good in you! I am too
hurried to buy anything, and that lace is far beyond my purse if I had
any amount of time."

"Then I am glad I thought of offering you the use of these. But now I
think it would be well for you to try on the dress and see what--if
any--alteration it needs. We will go into my dressing room, and I will
be your tire-woman," she added, gathering up the dress as she spoke,
while Mrs. Embury took the veil.

The three passed into the dressing room, leaving Mr. Dinsmore sole
occupant of the boudoir, he taking up a book to amuse himself with while
they were gone.

Only a few minutes had passed when they returned, Maud looking very
bridelike in the dainty satin and the veil.

"Bravo, cousin! You look every inch a bride, and a lovely one at that!"
he exclaimed. "I advise you by all means to accept my sister's offer.
You could not do better."

"I could hardly want to do better," said Maud. "Yes, Cousin Elsie, I
accept it with a world of thanks. Oh, I never dreamed of having anything
so lovely to wear for my bridal dress! And I need not care that the
finery does not really belong to me, for you