She is the sweetest thing!" said Patty. "Every new present that comes
in, she sits and looks at it helplessly, as if it were the very last
straw!"

"Well, of course, most of the presents are from Mr. Hepworth's
friends," said Mona, "and they are stunning! I don't wonder Christine
is overcome."

"She has lots of friends of her own, too," said Patty. "All the girls
gave her beautiful things, and you two quite outdid yourselves. That
lamp of yours, Mona, is a perfect dream; and, Elise, I never saw such
gems as your silver candlesticks. Christine's path through life will
be well lighted! Well, everything's finished, and I think it's about
time we went to dress. The ceremony's at four, and as I'm going to be
a bridesmaid for the first time in my mad career, I don't want to be
late at the party."

"How beautiful the drawing-room looks," said Mrs. Allen, coming along
just then. "Patty dear, doesn't this all remind you of the day Nan was
married?"

"Yes, Mrs. Allen; only the weddings are quite different. But Christine
would keep this as simple as possible, so of course I let her have her
own way."

"Yes, Patty, that's the privilege of a bride. But some day you can
have your own way in the direction of your own wedding, and I rather
fancy it will be an elaborate affair. I hope I'll be here to see."

"I hope you will, Mrs. Allen," laughed Patty; "but don't look for it
very soon. My suitors are so bashful, you know; I have to urge them
on."

"Nonsense!" cried Elise. "Patty's greatest trouble is to keep her
suitors off! She tries to hold them at arm's length, but they are so
insistent that it is difficult."

"I think you girls are all too young to have suitors," commented Mrs.
Allen, smiling at the pretty trio.

"Oh, Mrs. Allen," said Patty; "suitors doesn't mean men who want to
marry you. I suppose it's sort of slang, but nowadays, girls call all
their young men suitors, even the merest casual acquaintances."

"Oh, I see," said Mrs. Allen. "I suppose as in my younger days we used
to call them beaux."

"Yes, just that," said Patty. "Why, Mr. Hepworth used to be one of our
favourite suitors, until he persuaded Christine to marry him; but we
have lots of them left."

"Is that big one coming to the wedding?" asked Mrs. Allen.

"She means Bill Farnsworth," said Patty to the others. "She always
calls him 'that big one.' I don't know whether he's coming or not. He
said if he possibly could get here, he would."

"He'll