hat are children coming to! You stand there and
say, 'I'm going to marry Daniel Oakley.' Oh, I am so faint ... all of
a sudden ... Get the spirits of ammonia."

Adele turned and walked out of the room. She was married six weeks
later. They had a regular prewar wedding--veil, flowers, dinner, and
all. Aunt Sophy arranged the folds of her gown and draped her veil.
The girl stood looking at herself in the mirror, a curious half smile
twisting her lips. She seemed slighter and darker than ever.

"In all this white, and my veil, I look just like a fly in a quart of
milk," she said, with a laugh. Then, suddenly, she turned to her aunt,
who stood behind her, and clung to her, holding her tight, tight. "I
can't!" she gasped. "I can't! I can't!"

Aunt Sophy held her off and looked at her, her eyes searching the girl.

"What do you mean, Della? Are you just nervous or do you mean you
don't want to marry him? Do you mean that? Then what are you marrying
for? Tell me! Tell your Aunt Sophy."

But Adele was straightening herself and pulling out the crushed folds
of her veil. "To pay the mortgage on the old homestead, of course.
Just like the girl in the play." She laughed a little. But Aunt Sophy
did not.

"Now look here, Della. If you're----"

But there was a knock at the door. Adele caught up her flowers. "It's
all right," she said. Aunt Sophy stood with her back against the door.
"If it's money," she said. "It is! It is, isn't it! I've got money
saved. It was for you children. I've always been afraid. I knew he
was sailing pretty close, with his speculations and all, since the war.
He can have it all. It isn't too late yet. Adele! Della, my baby."

"Don't, Aunt Sophy. It wouldn't be enough, anyway. Daniel has been
wonderful, really. Dad's been stealing money for years. Dan's. Don't
look like that. I'd have hated being poor, anyway. Never could have
got used to it. It is ridiculous, though, isn't it? Like something in
the movies. I don't mind. I'm lucky, really, when you come to think
of it. A plain little black thing like me."

"But your mother----"

"Mother doesn't know a thing."

Flora wept mistily all through the ceremony, but Adele was composed
enough for two.

When, scarcely a month later, Baldwin came to Sophy Decker, his face
drawn and queer, Sophy knew.

"How much?" she said.

"Thirty thousand will cover it. If you've got more than that----"

"I thought Oakley----