Clover

among her other qualities a great deal of what is called "forehandedness." To leave things to be attended to at the last moment in a flurry and a hurry would have been intolerable to

in a surprising ease of mind and absence of confusion. The house had received its spring cleaning a fortnight earlier than usual, and was in fair, nice order, with freshly-beaten carpets and newly-washed curtains. Katy's dresses were ordered betimes, and had come home, been tried

on Cousin Helen, and see that she and her nurse had everything they wanted. Clover was to care for the two Roses; Johnnie to oversee the table arrangements, and make sure that all was right in that direction. Dear little Amy was indefatigable as a doer of errands, and her quick feet were at everybody's service to "save steps." Cecy arrived, and haunted the house all day long, anxious to be of use to somebody; Mrs. Ashe p

y, looking as fresh as a rose; not tired a bit, and never seeming to have anything on your mind. I c

etty much as they are every day, only with a little more of everything because of there being more people to provide fo

oman in the "County Home." Each of the brothers and sisters had made her something, Katy having expressed a preference for presents of home manufacture. Mrs. Ashe gave her a beautiful sapphire ring, and Cecy Hall-as they still called her inadvertently half the time-an e

age and carried her indoors, all of them could easily have fancied that it was the first visit happening over again, for she looked exactly as she did then, and scarce

remembered as children. The older ones were grown up, the younger ones in a fair way to be so; even Phil, who had been in white frocks with curls falling over his shoulders at the time of her former visit to Bu

as she could have shown to no one else, except perhaps to Clover. She had the feeling that in so doing she was rendering account to a sort of visible conscience of all the events, the mistakes, the successes, the glad and the sorry of the long interval that h

us not to raise her expectations and have her disappointed, that she would not half say how very nice she herself thought him to be. But

e third arrived the other anxiously exp

oneysuckle tendrils upon the trellis when the carriage drove up to the gate, and Rose's sunny face popped out of the window. Clover recognized her at o

s on the wharf, and gone on to Chicago in that abominable boat, leaving me to your tender merc

queeze. "Let us play that he doesn't exist, for a littl

g and hospitable air, with doors and windows wide open, and the soft wind fluttering the vines and the whit

dy,-the first remark she had made. "I tan wa

, catching her up. "Isn't it wonderf

betause you is so big

mawwied' without you? I have been waitin

a tone of immense satis

five minutes she seemed as much at home as though she had spent her life in Burnet. They bore her into the house in a sort of triumph, and upstairs to the blue bedroom, which Katy and Clover had vacated f

. She was evidently relating some experience of her journey, with an occasional sp

ever saw, with a fawn-colored hat, and was altogether dazzling; and, do you know, I was real

d she do?" This i

rls; and I went on being very cordial. Then Lilly tried to put me down by running over a list of her fine acquaintances, Lady this, and the Marquis of th

we do. We

and me,' it seems; and we have seen a great deal of him. This appeared a good opportunity to show that I too have relations w

he think of him?

f the lot. He really does look like an absolute fool, you know,' I added pleasantly. Now, girls, what was there in that to make her angry? Can you tell? She grew scarlet, and glare

lover, in fits of laughter, "

uldn't I? Is there any

d to him," replied Katy,

he look so black when she asked where we were going, and I said to your wedding? T

nd Lilly," said Katy, temper

pparently speaking with a hairpin in her mouth. "Well, I've done for myself, that

pretty sight to see Rose with Cousin Helen. She knew all about her already from Clover and Katy, and fell at once under the gentle spell which seemed always to surround that invalid sofa, begged lea

nd so peaceful and so interested in Katy's affairs, and never once seeming to remember that except for that accident she too would have b

en enough to be sorry. She is always thi

her. "She and grandmamma are of a different order of beings from the rest of the world. I

eally been one of the strong influences of our lives. She was the making

hands so entirely that Rose complained that she seemed to have lost her child as well as her husband. She was a sedate little maiden, and wonderfully wise for her

"Mamma, don't fordet dat your teys is in the top dwawer,"-all these reminders and advices being made particularly comical by th

ould say. "Think of my having a ch

leased to have her do so. After tea Rose carried her off, ostensibly to go to bed, but Clover heard a great deal of confabulating and giggling in the hall and on the stairs, and soon after, Rose returned, the door-bell rang loudly, and there entered

ehind her back and her blue eyes fixed full on Katy's fac

essender

n's Expwe

little b

Aunty T

ws wot's d

tiss the

essender

's Expwess

der" with all her heart. "I never heard such a dea

ut she teached it to

nds from Ellen Gray, and from dear old Mrs. Redding a beautiful lace-pin set with a moonstone. Next came a little repoussé pitcher marked, "With love from Mary Silver," then a parcel tied with pink ribbons, containing a card-case of Japanese leather, which was little Rose's gift, and last of all Rose's own present, a delightful case full of

betause if I don't I shall be too seepy t

mother I am! Things are come to a pass indeed, if babes and sucklings have to

slein's drowsy eyes loo

at compliment that he should think it worth while to come so far to see one of his junior officers married; and it showed so much real regard for Ned that everybody was delighted. These guest

d she was too preoccupied to keep her calm grasp on events; still all went smoothly, and Rose declared that there n

was a little haze about the sunset the night before, and she expressed her

uld storm," she said, "after all this fine weather

e of the weather even on Katy's weddi

harp-curved silver shape, descend and disappear a little before midnight. She roused again when all was still, solemn darkness except for a spangle of star

t again for a long, restful space, and woke refreshed, so that Katy's secret fear that Cousi

me room, and waked almost at the same moment. It was early still; but the

ily portion which was their habit. Then hand in hand they stole downstairs, disturbing nobody, softly opened doors and windows, carried bowls and jars out on the

eir best to grace Katy's wedding. The whole world seemed full of delicious smells. Each table and chimney-piece bore a fragrant load; a great bowl of Jacqueminots stood in the

e of affection which seemed to pervade everything about it. After breakfast came family prayers as usu

oul! and wi

f everything else had failed, as Rose remarked to Clover in a whisper, though nobody found any fault with the more substantial fare which Debby ha

"And the wonderful thing is that everything comes so natural

g that fever," was Ned's somewhat indirect an

-oysters and salads and cold chicken; fresh salmon from Lake Superior; a big Virginia ham baked to perfection, red and translucent to its savory centre; hot coffee, and quantities of Debby's perfect rolls. There were strawberries, also, and ice-cream, and the best of home-m

make her appearance at the decisive moment; but Katy had settled it by saying simply

id; "and you know I don't want a

ed Rose; "but it seems to me to

it two or three white roses which Ned had brought her, and a pearl pendant which was his gift. Then Clover had to go downstairs to receive the guests, and see that Cousin Helen's sofa was put in the right place; and Rose, who remained behind, had the plea

e Rose came up

tum, and everything is weddy, and y

pearance of the white dress and veil that she kept fast hold of Katy's hand, disregarding her m

with my Aunt Tat

ittle sense of shyness which was creeping over her, and responded to his look with a tender, brilliant smile. The light from the hall-door caught her face and figure just then, the color flashed into her cheeks;

ose let go her hand, and they went

ver particularly deprecated. He had also been known to advert to the world where there is neither marrying nor giving in marriage as a great improvement on this, which seemed, to say the leas

t her place and went straight to where Cousin Helen lay on her sofa, watching the scene with those clear, tender eyes in which no shadow of past regrets coul

to her new life than did my Katy. All sorts of people took Ned off into corners to tell him privately what a fortunate person

ion. Mrs. Worrett had not been able to come. She never left home now on account of the prevailing weaknes

h us all, and help eat up the rest of the cake?" demanded Clover, as

; but she didn't

in December, when the ship sails, and as likely as not she will stay a year, or perhaps two. That's what I like about the navy. You

emarked Rose. "Girls are not always so anxious to ship

t to leave her own family and go away for always. I like Ned dearly, but excep

e wiser one of these days, see if