messenger, wearing itself out there so that she might descend all smiles
to greet father and mother and smooth off the situation in a most
harmonious manner.

Marcia paused before the door to listen. Perhaps Kate was nearly ready and
her distasteful errand need not be performed. But though she held her
breath to listen, no sound came from the closed door. Very softly she
tried to lift the latch and peep in. Kate must still be asleep. It was not
the first time Marcia had found that to be the case when sent to bring her
sister.

But the latch would not lift. The catch was firmly down from the inside.
Marcia applied her eye to the keyhole, but could get no vision save a dim
outline of the window on the other side of the room. She tapped gently
once or twice and waited again, then called softly: "Kate, Kate! Wake up.
Breakfast is ready and everybody is eating. Aunt Polly and Uncle Joab will
soon be here."

She repeated her tapping and calling, growing louder as she received no
answer. Kate would often keep still to tease her thus. Surely though she
would not do so upon her wedding morning!

She called and called and shook the door, not daring, however, to make
much of an uproar lest David should hear. She could not bear he should
know the shortcomings of his bride.

But at last she grew alarmed. Perhaps Kate was ill. At any rate, whatever
it was, it was time she was up. She worked for some minutes trying to
loosen the catch that held the latch, but all to no purpose. She was
forced to go down stairs and whisper to her stepmother the state of the
case.

Madam Schuyler, excusing herself from the table, went upstairs, purposeful
decision in every line of her substantial body, determination in every
sound of her footfall. Bride though she be, Kate would have meted out to
her just dues this time. Company and a lover and the nearness of the
wedding hour were things not to be trifled with even by a charming Kate.

But Madam Schuyler returned in a short space of time, puffing and panting,
somewhat short of breath, and color in her face. She looked troubled, and
she interrupted the Squire without waiting for him to finish his sentence
to David.

"I cannot understand what is the matter with Kate," she said, looking at
her husband. "She does not seem to be awake, and I cannot get her door
open. She sleeps soundly, and I suppose the unusual excitement has made
her very tired. But I should think she ought to hear my voice. Perh