s to repenting time. But you can't do anything
with a man who just keeps placid and aggravating."

"You know he's a Grit, Miss Cornelia."

"Yes, he IS," admitted Miss Cornelia rather sadly. "And of course
there is no hope of making a Conservative of him. But at least he is a
Presbyterian. So I suppose I shall have to be satisfied with that."

"Would you marry him if he were a Methodist, Miss Cornelia?"

"No, I would not. Politics is for this world, but religion is for
both."

"And you may be a 'relict' after all, Miss Cornelia."

"Not I. Marshall will live me out. The Elliotts are long-lived, and
the Bryants are not."

"When are you to be married?" asked Anne.

"In about a month's time. My wedding dress is to be navy blue silk.
And I want to ask you, Anne, dearie, if you think it would be all right
to wear a veil with a navy blue dress. I've always thought I'd like to
wear a veil if I ever got married. Marshall says to have it if I want
to. Isn't that like a man?"

"Why shouldn't you wear it if you want to?" asked Anne.

"Well, one doesn't want to be different from other people," said Miss
Cornelia, who was not noticeably like anyone else on the face of the
earth. "As I say, I do fancy a veil. But maybe it shouldn't be worn
with any dress but a white one. Please tell me, Anne, dearie, what you
really think. I'll go by your advice."

"I don't think veils are usually worn with any but white dresses,"
admitted Anne, "but that is merely a convention; and I am like Mr.
Elliott, Miss Cornelia. I don't see any good reason why you shouldn't
have a veil if you want one."

But Miss Cornelia, who made her calls in calico wrappers, shook her
head.

"If it isn't the proper thing I won't wear it," she said, with a sigh
of regret for a lost dream.

"Since you are determined to be married, Miss Cornelia," said Gilbert
solemnly, "I shall give you the excellent rules for the management of a
husband which my grandmother gave my mother when she married my father."

"Well, I reckon I can manage Marshall Elliott," said Miss Cornelia
placidly. "But let us hear your rules."

"The first one is, catch him."

"He's caught. Go on."

"The second one is, feed him well."

"With enough pie. What next?"

"The third and fourth are--keep your eye on him."

"I believe you," said Miss Cornelia emphatically.

CHAPTER 38

RED ROSES

The garden of the little house was a haunt beloved of bees and reddened