admire her and for once she would be the
centre of attraction. The pink of pride swelled up into her cheeks, and
then realizing what she was thinking she crushed the feeling down. How
could she think of such things when Kate had done such a dreadful thing,
and David was suffering so terribly? Here was she actually enjoying, and
delighting in the thought of being in Kate's place. Oh, she was wicked,
wicked! She must not be happy for a moment in what was Kate's shame and
David's sorrow. Of her future with David she did not now think. It was of
the pageant of the day that her thoughts were full. If the days and weeks
and months that were to follow came into her mind at all between the other
things it was always that she was to care for David and to help him, and
that she would have to grow up quickly; and remember all the hard
housewifely things her stepmother had taught her; and try to order his
house well. But that troubled her not at all at present. She was more
concerned with the ceremony, and the many eyes that would be turned upon
her. It was a relief when a tap came on the door and the dear old minister
entered.

CHAPTER VI

He stood a moment by the door looking at her, half startled. Then he came
over beside her, put his hands upon her shoulders, looking down into her
upturned, veiled face.

"My child!" he said tenderly, "my little Marcia, is this you? I did not
know you in all this beautiful dress. You look as your own mother looked
when she was married. I remember perfectly as if it were but yesterday,
her face as she stood by your father's side. I was but a young man then,
you know, and it was my first wedding in my new church, so you see I could
not forget it. Your mother was a beautiful woman, Marcia, and you are like
her both in face and life."

The tears came into Marcia's eyes and her lips trembled.

"Are you sure, child," went on the gentle voice of the old man, "that you
understand what a solemn thing you are doing? It is not a light thing to
give yourself in marriage to any man. You are so young yet! Are you doing
this thing quite willingly, little girl? Are you sure? Your father is a
good man, and a dear old friend of mine, but I know what has happened has
been a terrible blow to him, and a great humiliation. It has perhaps
unnerved his judgment for the time. No one should have brought pressure to
bear upon a child like you to make you marry against your wi