there is such a
creature as Man.

At home, Mohunsleigh would have had to give us things, of course; but
in America, it appears that the bridegroom makes presents to the best
man and the ushers; so it was from Carolyn that I got a duck of a
brooch, like an American flag, with stripes of diamonds and rubies, and
the blue part sapphires. Mohunsleigh said that, as he was awfully hard
up, it was bad luck for him to have to provide each of the bridesmaids
with bouquets and chiffon muffs, and he could not see at all that it
was a pretty idea for everything they carried in their hands to come
from the bridegroom. But as Sally had told me that Carolyn's father had
settled ten million dollars on her, I don't think Mohunsleigh need have
complained.

Although it was in a house, the wedding was very picturesque, and the
bride and groom stood under a bell of white roses about as large as Big
Ben.

I enjoyed it all immensely, for it was my first time as bridesmaid, and
I had a lovely frock and hat (copied from an old picture) for
which--when I wanted the bill--I found Sally had paid. There was a
crush at the reception, but it only lasted two hours. After the bride
and groom had gone, with showers of rice and satin slippers, we stayed
and had a dance--just the ushers and bridesmaids and a few young
people, who were intimate friends of Carolyn's.

It was then that my greatest troubles began. On a pretence of showing
some wedding presents which he said I hadn't seen because they were in
a different room from the others, Potter got me alone and proposed
again. This time he didn't laugh and joke, as he had before, so that I
could take it half in fun even while it made me uncomfortable, but was
very serious indeed. When I wanted to go out he stood in front of the
door, and wouldn't let me pass; and his chin and eyes looked so
horribly determined that he was more like Mrs. Ess Kay than ever.

"My dear little ladyship," he said, "you're not going to get away until
you've given me my answer."

"But I have given it," said I.

"I don't call what you've given me an answer, because you see, I want
you so much, and I've made up my mind so hard and fast to have you,
that I shan't take 'no' for an answer."

"I don't see how you can help it, as it's the only one I have to give,
and I've told you that two dozen times at least," I said, beginning to
feel irritable, as I always have from the first, whenever Potter talked
about love.

"I know