ome trifling failing with his many
virtues, she would have laughed the idea to scorn, and her companions
realised as much, and made no further efforts to convince her.

"It's no use talking!" Mellicent cried in scorn. "She thinks he is
perfect, and that we are all too stupid and ignorant to appreciate him.
It's the way all girls go on when they get engaged, and the only thing
to do is to keep quiet, and let them find out their mistake. They are
mad, poor dears, and don't know what they are doing. Let us talk about
the wedding; that will be more interesting. I have simply ached to have
a wedding in the family, and felt quite low because I thought mine would
be the first, and I should be cheated out of the fun of being a
bridesmaid and having all the fuss and excitement."

"I am afraid you will have very little of that, Mill, as it is, for it
will be very, very quiet. I should hate a fashionable wedding, and feel
that it took away half the solemnity of the service to have one's
thoughts taken up with dress and furbelows. Edward wants to be married
very soon, in two months, if possible, for he says he has waited long
enough for a home, and there is no reason for delay. We are quite sure
of our own minds, and there will be no difficulty in finding another
governess for the little boys; so, mother dear, we must try to be ready
for a very quiet wedding by that time. I shall not need an elaborate
trousseau, you know; just a few plain, useful dresses."

Mellicent groaned, and threw up her hands in despair.

"Oh dear, what a thing it is to be sensible! Just listen to her, Peggy,
with her `few useful dresses.' I must say it's very hard on me, to have
a sister who never takes my feelings into account. What is the good of
having a wedding at all, if it isn't properly done with a choral service
and bridesmaids and pretty frocks? I don't think you _could_ be so
selfish, Esther, as to say I shall not be bridesmaid. I'd break my
heart if you did. Just Peggy and me, and one or two of his relatives,
and Rosalind Darcy, and the little boys as pages to hold up your train.
They would look sweet as pages, and every one has them now.--It's quite
the proper thing."

But Esther laughed derisively at the very idea.

"Pages indeed! Trains indeed! I sha'n't have any train to carry. My
own idea is to be married in my travelling-dress at eight o'clock in the
morning, and drive straight to the station; but we must talk it over