wn room. She was quite mortal enough
to shed some tears over it, but when she sat opposite to her mother at
breakfast, her face was quite as jubilant as any young bride's might be,
who was so soon to leave home.

Mrs. Meadowsweet looked at her girl with great pride.

"You feature your father wonderfully, Bee," she said. "It isn't only the
Grecian nose, and the well-cut lips, and the full, straight kind of
glance in your eyes, but it's more. It's my belief that your soul
features Meadowsweet; he was ever and always the best of men. Crotchety
from uprightness he was, but upright was no word for him."

"Well, mother, I should like to resemble my father in that particular."

"Yes, my love, yes. Meadowsweet was always heights above me, and so are
you also, for that matter."

"That is not true, mother, you must not say it. It pains me."

Beatrice looked distressed. She went over to her old parent and kissed
her. Then she hastily left the room.

After breakfast Captain Bertram called at the Gray House.

He and Beatrice had a long interview, then she went to the Bells', and
sat with Miss Hart for about half-an-hour.

After dinner that day Bertram spoke to his mother: "Beatrice wants to
come up and see you. Can you receive her about six o'clock?"

"At any time, my dear son. But is she not dreadfully busy? Would it not
convenience her more if I went to her, Loftie?"

"No, mother, she would prefer to come here. She has"--here his face
turned pale--"she has a good deal to say to you--important things to
speak about." His voice trembled. "You will see her alone. You will not
hurry her. Beatrice is the best--the best girl in the world."

Bertram looked very pale when he said this.

"How strange you look, Loftus!" said his mother. "And your words are
very queer. Is anything the matter? Are you concealing any thing from
me?"

"Beatrice will tell you," he said. And he hurried out of the room.

A few minutes before six o'clock Beatrice arrived. Mrs. Bertram had
given directions that she was to be sent at once to her private room.
Clara had these instructions, and was about to carry them out literally
when Catherine and Mabel ran into the hall.

They greeted Beatrice with raptures, and Mabel said in an eager voice:

"We have not yet seen you in your bridal dress, Bee. You know it was an
old promise that we should see you in it the day before the wedding.
Don't stay long with mother, Bee. Catherine and I can walk back wi