ugh they had never existed. There were occasions when such
abstraction brought about material _contretemps_, but of the mental
lightening there could be no doubt.

Everyone in the room received the same impression of radiance as the
bride entered, but on the different minds the impression acted
differently. The Vicar's wife, clad as had been foretold, in black
satin and aigretted cap, but showing a pendant of cameo, instead of
agate, on the discreet decolletage, felt a sudden unreasoning
disposition towards tears, and the good man, her husband, breathed a
mental "God keep her!" but the Hon. Mrs Mawson was distinctly shocked.
She was the Evangelical magnate whose religion seemed largely to consist
in disapproving of other people's enjoyments, and the bride's obtrusive
happiness appeared to her as a deliberate "tempting of Providence."
Moreover, she disapproved of the costume as theatrical and unusual. Why
not satin, like everybody else? And no jewels! The niece of Lady
Griselda Dundas must possess jewels of price. Then why that bare neck?
Mrs Mawson was wearing her own rubies, and took it as a personal slight
that the bride had come to meet her unadorned.

Midway between the two extremes flowed the general verdict, but Grizel
was blissfully unconscious of criticism. She went through the necessary
greetings of acquaintances, among whom she was surprised to recognise
Teresa Mallison, and then exchanged a few words with her hostess before
leading the way to dinner on the Squire's arm.

Cassandra looked as usual, both tired and vivid; she gave a caressing
pressure to her friend's elbow, and murmured softly:

"Exquisite. About eighteen! ... Talk hard, Grizel, for pity's sake--
talk hard! The atmosphere is freezing. At the last moment Mona
Fenchurch sent a wire. Flue. I had to send for Teresa. She's so good
about filling gaps."

"Oh, well!" Grizel said significantly. Of course Teresa was delighted
to come, especially when by good luck it was Peignton's predestined
partner who had fallen out! She stood by his side now--flushed, silent,
a trifle gauche, for it was something of an ordeal to meet the people
who politely ignored her existence in the life of the neighbourhood.
Grizel divined something of the cause of the girl's embarrassment, and
sent her a smile of beaming friendliness. Well! all had turned out for
the best. Nobody wanted Mona Fenchurch for the pleasure of her company,
and her absence had pa