of,--so you can imagine my
disgust when presently three of the stoutest ladies you ever saw
came sailing up the aisle, and prepared to invade _my_ pew.

"Please move up, Madam," said the fattest of all, who wore a
wonderful yellow hat.

But I was not "raised" at Hillsover for nothing, and remembering
the success of our little ruse on the railroad train long ago, I
stepped out into the aisle, and with my sweetest smile made room
for them to pass.

"Perhaps I would better keep the seat next the door," I murmured
to the yellow lady, "in case an attack should come on."

"An attack!" she repeated in an accent of alarm. She whispered
to the others. All three eyed me suspiciously, while I stood
looking as pensive and suffering as I could. Then after
confabulating together for a little, they all swept into the
seat behind mine, and I heard them speculating in low tones as
to whether it was epilepsy or catalepsy or convulsions that I
was subject to. I presume they made signs to all the other
people who came in to steer clear of the lady with fits, for
nobody invaded my privacy, and I sat in lonely splendor with a
pew to myself, and was very comfortable indeed.

Mary's dress was white satin, with a great deal of point lace
and pearl passementerie, and she wore a pair of diamond
ear-rings which her father gave her, and a bouquet almost but
not quite as large, which was the gift of the bridegroom. He has
a nice face, and I think Silvery Mary will be happy with him,
much happier than with her rather dismal family, though his
salary is only fifteen hundred a year, and pearl passementerie,
I believe, quite unknown and useless in the Hoosac region. She
had loads of the most beautiful presents you ever saw. All the
Silvers are rolling in riches, you know. One little thing made
me laugh, for it was so like her. When the clergyman said,
"Mary, wilt thou take this man to be thy wedded husband?" I
distinctly saw her put her fingers over her mouth in the old,
frightened way. It was only for a second, and after that I
rather think Mr. Strothers held her hand tight for fear she
might do it again. She sent her love to you, Katy. What sort of
a gown are _you_ going to have, by the way?

I have kept my best news to the last, which is that Deniston has
at last given way, and we are to m