either made her appearance until tea-time,
for Lucy was in just the state when an explosive storm would surely
have followed any remark addressed to her!

The next day was the Sabbath, and as Lucy entered the church, the
first object which met her eye was St. Leon, seated in the sewing
woman's pew, and Ada _tolerably_ though not _very_ near him! "How
disgusting!" she hissed between her teeth, as she entered her own
richly-cushioned seat, and opened her velvet-bound prayer book.
Precious little of the sermon heard she that day, for, turn which way
she would, she still saw in fancy the sweet young face of her rival;
and it took but a slight stretch of imagination to bring to view a
costly house in the far-off "Sunny South," a troop of servants, a
handsome, noble husband, and the hated Ada the happy mistress of them
all! Before church was out Lucy was really sick, and when at home in
her room she did not refuse the bowl of herb tea which Berintha kindly
brought her, saying "it had cured her when she felt just so."

The morning of the wedding came, and though Lucy had determined not to
be present, yet as the hour approached she felt how utterly impossible
it would be for her to stay away; and when at half-past eight the
doors were opened she was among the first who entered the church,
which in a short time was filled. Nine rang from the old clock in the
belfry, and then up the broad aisle came the bridal party, consisting
of Mr. and Mrs. Graham, Charlie and Anna, Mrs. Harcourt, or Mrs.
Linwood as we must now call her, St. Leon and Ada.

"Was there ever a more beautiful bride?" whispered Bessie Lee; but
Lucy made no answer, and as soon as the ceremony was concluded she
hurried home, feeling almost in need of some more catnip tea!

In the eleven o'clock train St. Leon with his bride and her mother
started for New Haven, where they spent a delightful week, and then
returned to S----. A few days were passed at the house of Mr. Graham,
and then they departed for their southern home. As we shall not again
have occasion to speak of them in this story we will here say that the
following summer they came North, together with Jenny and Cousin
Frank, the latter of whom was so much pleased with the rosy cheeks,
laughing eyes, and playful manners of Bessie Lee that when he returned
home he coaxed her to accompany him; and again was there a wedding in
St. Luke's, and again did Miss Carson make the bridal outfit, wishing
that all New