orth was a little too horrid: his
teeth were dreadful. Do you know, I should have had something of a
struggle to take him, though he was so terribly rich? Then Danforth
had been horridly dissipated,--you don't know,--Maria Sanford told me
such shocking things about him, and she knows they are true. Now, I
don't think John has ever been dissipated."

[Illustration: "I think he's nice myself."]

"Oh, no!" said Belle. "I heard all about him. He joined the church
when he was only twenty, and has been always spoken of as a perfect
model. I only think you may find it a little slow, living in
Springdale. He has a fine, large, old-fashioned house there, and his
sister is a very nice woman; but they are a sort of respectable,
retired set,--never go into fashionable company."

"Oh, I don't mind it!" said Lillie. "I shall have things my own way,
I know. One isn't obliged to live in Springdale, nor with pokey old
sisters, you know; and John will do just as I say, and live where I
please."

She said this with her simple, soft air of perfect assurance, twisting
her shower of bright, golden curls; with her gentle, childlike face,
and soft, beseeching, blue eyes, and dimpling little mouth, looking
back on her, out of the mirror. By these the little queen had always
ruled from her cradle, and should she not rule now? Was it any wonder
that John was half out of his wits with joy at thought of possessing
_her_? Simply and honestly, she thought not. He was to be
congratulated; though it wasn't a bad thing for her, either.

"Belle," said Lillie, after an interval of reflection, "I won't be
married in white satin,--that I'm resolved on. Now," she said, facing
round with increasing earnestness, "there have been five weddings
in our set, and all the girls have been married in just the same
dress,--white satin and point lace, white satin and point lace, over
and over, till I'm tired of it. _I'm_ determined I'll have something
new."

"Well, I would, I'm sure," said Belle. "Say white tulle, for instance:
you know you are so _petite_ and fairy-like."

"No: I shall write out to Madame La Roche, and tell her she must get
up something wholly original. I shall send for my whole _trousseau_.
Papa will be glad enough to come down, since he gets me off his hands,
and no more fuss about bills, you know. Do you know, Belle, that
creature is just wild about me: he'd like to ransack all the
jewellers' shops in New York for me. He's going up to-morro