oup of palms, where the wedding party would
stand.

Not even the bride herself looked prettier than Patty; though
Christine was very sweet, in her soft white chiffon, her misty veil,
and her shower bouquet of white flowers, which she had expressly
requested should be without ribbons.

Only the more intimate friends had been invited to the ceremony, but
immediately after, the house was filled with the reception guests.
Patty was in gay spirits, which was not at all unusual for that young
woman. She fluttered about everywhere, like a big pink butterfly, but
ever and again hovering back to Christine, to caress her, and, as she
expressed it, "To keep up her drooping spirits." Christine had never
entirely overcome her natural shyness, and being the centre of
attraction on this occasion greatly embarrassed her, and she was glad
of Patty's gay nonsense to distract attention from herself.

Kenneth Harper was best man, and, as he told Patty, the responsibility
of the whole affair rested on himself and her. "We're really of far
greater importance than the bride and groom," he said; "and they
depend on us for everything. Have you the confetti all ready, Patty?"

"Yes, of course; do you have to go to the train with them, Ken?"

"No; my duties are ended when I once get them packed into a motor at
the door. But Christine looks as if she couldn't survive much longer,
and as for old Gilbert, he's as absent-minded as the conventional
bridegroom."

"Christine's all right," said Patty. "I'm going to take her off, now,
to get into her travelling clothes. Oh, Ken, she has the loveliest
suit! Sort of a taupe colour, you know, and the dearest hat----"

"Patty! Do you suppose I care what she's going to wear away? But _do_
see to it that she's ready on time! You girls will all get to
weeping,--that's the way they always do,--and you'll spin out your
farewells so that they'll lose their train! Run along with Christine,
now; Hepworth is fidgeting like the dickens."

So the pretty bridesmaid took the pretty bride away, and Patty begged
Christine to make haste with her dressing, lest she might lose the
train.

"And Mr. Hepworth will go away without you," Patty threatened. "Now,
you do always dawdle, Christine; but this time you've got to
hustle,--so be spry,--Mrs. Hepworth."

Christine smiled at Patty's use of the new name, and she tried to make
the haste Patty demanded. But she was slow by nature, and Patty danced
around her in terror