been shocking, Carolyn said, for her to be seen anywhere
after the invitations were out, though I can't think why, as she didn't
seem at all ashamed of marrying Mohunsleigh, but rather the contrary,
and asked me hundreds of questions about what she would have to do when
she was a Countess. Fortunately, though, she had lots of things to keep
her busy indoors, trying on such frocks as she could get made in a
hurry, and writing letters to every girl she knew, announcing her
engagement.

The funniest things about the whole affair were--for me--the ushers,
the rehearsals for the wedding, and having a married woman as a sort of
head bridesmaid. Carolyn's best girl chum was married herself in the
spring, so she had to be what they call a Matron of Honour.

It seemed horribly irreverent to rehearse for the ceremony, but nobody
else thought so, except Mohunsleigh and me, and Mohunsleigh said in
confidence, that he'd found out the bridegroom was a mere lay figure at
a wedding,--anyhow in America,--and he intended to let Caro do exactly
as she liked until after they were married. Then she might have to find
out that once in a while it would be just as well if she did what he
liked. But he asked me not to mention this to Carolyn and her
stepmother, so I didn't. And in spite of my objection, the rehearsals
were interesting. I felt as if I oughtn't to laugh and joke, but the
others all did tremendously, so I did too in the end.

Mohunsleigh was disappointed because that Californian friend of his
(whom he would have visited if it hadn't been for falling in love
unexpectedly and getting married) couldn't come and be his best man. He
urged him, but something interfered, Mohunsleigh didn't tell us what,
and Mr. Jameson B. Harborough wasn't even able to come to the wedding.
I was disappointed, too, as Mohunsleigh had told us such romantic
things about his friend, that we all wanted to see him. Mr. Harborough
had been a sailor, and a cowboy, and had left everything to fight in
the Spanish war, where he'd done brave and splendid things, and might
have stayed in the army afterwards as a Captain, if he had liked. But
he preferred to go back to his old, free life, and was still a poor
young man until two or three years ago, when some land in which he'd
invested a few savings, turned out to have gold in it--quantities of
gold, gold enough to make a famous mine, and give Mr. Harborough a
great fortune. Sally knew a good deal about the new mil