Peggy

ould care particularly; but when I was telling the Fluffy last night, she said it was selfish and all kinds of things to keep it

a very dear friend of ours for several years. We think there is no one like her in the worl

he girls. "Why, I tho

degarde is twenty; so you see it is just exactly right. There isn't anybody like him, either. He is as near an angel as a man ca

ome?" asked

ndow; and it was all gray and cloudy. I thought it was going to rain, and I was in the depths, but Bell-you know Bell, my sister, at college-was sure it would clear before seven, and so it did. The sun came out bright and clear, and soon we saw that it was going to be the most beautiful day that ever was. We had been out in the fields all day before, getting flowers, and we had them all ready in tubs and bowls and pitchers; so afte

!" she said. "Most beautiful place I

great garlands of them twined over the chancel rail and swinging among the ferns and goldenrod; really, I never saw so many flowers at one time in my life. When that was all done we went to the house, Braeside, the Grahames' house, to see if we could help there; but Mrs. Flower, a friend of Hildegarde's, of whom we used to be the least little bit jealous before we knew her, was there, and another friend, Miss Desmond,-she was one of the bridesmaids,-and they had everything so beautifully ar

s, in chorus. "We want to hear

hings we cared for were the small presents that came from people we knew; people who loved Hildegarde, not just because she was their grandniece or something, but because she was herself. Oh, some of them were funny, girls! There were two dear old people who had come a long way to the wedding, a Mr. and Mrs. Hartley, with whom Hilda spent a summer when she was about fifteen, and whom she has been fond of ever since. I should think she would be; the old lady has a face like Raphael's grandmother-I can't think of any other way of describing it; and Mr. Hartley is simply a duck, the dearest funny old man you ever saw. Well, they brought Hilda the most beautiful toilet-set I ever saw or dreamed of

n't likely Hildegarde would have time herself this first season, and it wasn't a thing you could trust to hired help in general.' Miss Bond herself had brought china-my dear! did you ever see tortoise-shell crockery? Well, it is a most beautiful thing, and the art was lost a hundred years ago, and each piece is worth I

deal the few days before the wedding, and we took the guests to walk and drive and so on. Everywhere it was the same stor

m just as she did when she was staying there at Bywood; and naturally she couldn't, poor dear, though it was wonderful how she managed to be with them all a little every day, and to see to almost everything, so that her mother should have no care or worry. Well, where was I? oh! the little boys. Hugh Allen, our Hugh,-I can't stop to tell you about Hugh now, b

could find in history or fiction, and that was great fun; then she wrote some funny verses to go with them, and they really were lovely patterns, so it was a nice present, though strictly necessary, you see. Oh, I haven't told you about the diamonds! Helena Desmond was so funny about them! 'Hilda,' she said, 'it was clear from the beginning that I must be offered up on the altar of diamonds. I detes

ld have liked pearls better for Hilda. A diamond crescen

great beauty?

erhaps I have told you half the things, or rather more than half; but they are the things I cared m

leaned forward; presents were ver

was positively necessary that she should play the organ, and so it was. We wore perfectly plain white muslin gowns, but, oh, they were so pretty! with soft pale green sashes, and little wreaths of ivy in our hair. Hildegarde wanted everything as

it from India, years and years ago, for a lovely young girl who died while he was on his way home. It had been made in the house, and it looked just like her, as her dresses always do. She wore a little gold pin that Roger made for her himself,

e look like?"

nkind or false to save her life,-and a colour just like a wild rose, and a nose,-well, it's just her own nose, tilted up a little, but perfectly delightful; and when she smiles, you think she ha

hich they looked; yet, as Gertrude said, the actual beauty was the least part of its charm. Truth and kindness shone from it

too!" said one, breaking the silen

she is m

lfe slipped in quietly at the window, and, nod

wy! I see now where you got your virtues;

dly, but said nothing; in

. Hilda held her mother's hand fast all the time; they were both very quiet. The dear old black cook

ed for a moment; then s

h was full. And, oh! just a little way from the door was a band of little girls, Hilda's sewing-class, and they all had baskets of flowers, and scatter

dear bride on Colonel Ferrers' arm. Roger was waiting at the altar steps with Gerald. He came forward to meet her, and took both her hands,-oh, with such a beautiful look in his face! and then drew her arm through his, so proud and quiet and happy, and then the service went on. They both spoke so clearly, everybody could hear them, and the ring was ready, and t

r the home sobriquet of "Chelsea Waterworks;" but this recital touched her too nearly, and she had overcalculated her power of self-r

it has been so beautiful. Don't cry, dear!" But Grace Wolfe came and laid her han

It's good for her-and for all of us! Snowy, your

er, and feeling that she had been at the wedding herself, and wonder

her tears in good earnest, and

ussell was so kind when I told her what I wanted to do; but even that

a dozen marshmallows were frizzling over the gas-jets, while the student lamp did duty for several more. As soon as one was done, it was popped, hiss

tirely! The skin i

for m

two already! Fluf

her eyes, and looked on wondering. How could they hear each othe

e, wasn't it? Oh, I d

ad eight bridesmaids, and they wor

sweet for anything, but

blue woollen socks on over her white slippers-'some

ing like it in your life. It measu

ls. I adore diamonds, for my part. Why,

before I got half-way up the aisle. But to se

ndy! I wouldn't mi

as I sit here! and she said 'No!' She said: '

was nothing in the world she'd li

ng without moving a muscle

sixty diamonds. Fact, I assure

te, not fit fo

r; the round, rosy face of Miss

d. Miss Russell sent me to say s

r and cheers for the Snowy and the Fluffy, and snatches of talk bubbling all the way along the corridor. Wh

led my Pugg

her clos

with both h

never use