inner and
a change of horses.

Marcia looked about with interest at the houses, streets, and people.
There were two girls of about her own age with long hair braided down
their backs. They were walking with arms about each other as she and Mary
Ann had often done. She wondered if any such sudden changes might be
coming to them as had come into her life. They turned and looked at her
curiously, enviously it seemed, as the coach drew up to the tavern and she
was helped out with ceremony. Doubtless they thought of her as she had
thought of Kate but last week.

She was shown into the dim parlor of the tavern and seated in a stiff
hair-cloth chair. It was all new and strange and delightful.

Before a high gilt mirror set on great glass knobs like rosettes, she
smoothed her wind-blown hair, and looked back at the reflection of her
strange self with startled eyes. Even her face seemed changed. She knew
the bonnet and arrangement of hair were becoming, but she felt
unacquainted with them, and wished for her own modest braids and plain
bonnet. Even a sunbonnet would have been welcome and have made her feel
more like herself.

David did not see how pretty she looked when he came to take her to the
dining room ten minutes later. His eyes were looking into the hard future,
and he was steeling himself against the glances of others. He must be the
model bridegroom in the sight of all who knew him. His pride bore him out
in this. He had acquaintances all along the way home.

They were expecting the bridal party, for David had arranged that a fine
dinner should be ready for his bride. Fine it was, with the best cooking
and table service the mistress of the tavern could command, and with many
a little touch new and strange to Marcia, and therefore interesting. It
was all a lovely play till she looked at David.

David ate but little, and Marcia felt she must hurry through the meal for
his sake. Then when the carryall was ready he put her in and they drove
away.

Marcia's keen intuition told her how many little things had been thought
of and planned for, for the comfort of the one who was to have taken this
journey with David. Gradually the thought of how terrible it was for him,
and how dreadful of Kate to have brought this sorrow upon him, overcame
all other thoughts.

Sitting thus quietly, with her hands folded tight in the faded bunch of
roses little Harriet had given her at parting, the last remaining of the
flowers she had