ia's relation to David in scornful laugh
and appropriated him herself. Marcia's inmost soul rebelled. The color
came back as if by force of her will. She would show Kate,--or she would
show David at least,--that she could bear all things for him. She would
play well her part of wife this day. The happy two months that had passed
since David came back from New York had made her almost feel as if she was
really his and he hers. For this hour she would forget that it was
otherwise. She would look at him and speak to him as if he had been her
husband for years, as if there were the truest understanding between
them,--as indeed, of a certain wistful, pleasant sort there was. She would
not let the dreadful thought of Kate cloud her face for others to see.
Bravely she faced the company, but her heart under Kate's blue frock sent
up a swift and pleading prayer demanding of a higher Power something she
knew she had not in herself, and must therefore find in Him who had
created her. It was the most trustful, and needy prayer that Marcia ever
uttered and yet there were no words, not even the closing of an eyelid.
Only her heart took the attitude of prayer.

The door upstairs opened in a business-like way, and Hannah's composed
voice was heard giving a direction. Hannah's silken tread began to be
audible. Miranda told Marcia afterward that she kept her standing at the
window for an hour beforehand to see when David arrived, and when they
started over to the house. Hannah kept herself posted on what was going on
in the room below as well as if she were down there. She knew where David
and Marcia stood, and told Kate exactly where to go. It was like Hannah
that in the moment of her sacrifice of the long cherished hopes of her
life she should have planned a dramatic revenge to help carry her through.

The bride's rustle became at last so audible that even David and Mr.
Brentwood heard and turned from their absorbing conversation to the
business in hand.

Hannah was in the doorway when David looked up, very cold and beautiful in
her bridal array despite the years she had waited, and almost at once
David saw the vision in purple and gold like a saucy pansy, standing near
her.

Kate's eyes were fixed upon him with their most bewitching, dancing smile
of recognition, like a naughty little child who had been in hiding for a
time and now peeps out laughing over the discomfiture of its elders. So
Kate encountered the steadfast gaze of Dav