know what you're thinking about, because Lalage told me. She doesn't
mean to be vindictive in the least. She seemed to think----"

"Surely not that the Archdeacon will like it?"

"Hardly that; but that under the circumstances his feelings would be
hurt if any one else was asked to perform the ceremony."

"After all," I said, "there's still Miss Battersby. He can't complain."

"She's to be a bridesmaid. So is Hilda, of course."

"Selby-Harrison shall be best man," I said.

"Oh!" said my mother, "I gathered from Lalage that you were to ask----"

"I know she doesn't want me to get into touch with Selby-Harrison.
I've been trying to make his acquaintance for years and she keeps on
concealing him. But this time I'm determined. I'll have Selby-Harrison
or no one."

"I gathered from Lalage that she'd prefer----"

"Very well," I said, "I'll have two best men. I don't see why I
shouldn't. Who's the other?"

"Lalage mentioned a Mr. Tithers."

"Titherington is his name," I said, "and if I have him I don't see how I
can very well leave out Vittie, O'Donoghue, and McMeekin. I don't
know how you feel about the matter, but I rather object to being made a
public show of with five best men."

"I'm so delighted about it," said my mother, "that I don't mind if you
go on talking nonsense about it all the evening. Lalage will be exactly
the wife you want. She'll shake you up out of your lazy ways and make
something of you in the end."

"Has she settled that?"

"No. She and I are to have a long talk about that, sometime, soon."

I was about to protest, when the door opened and Miss Battersby
staggered breathlessly into the room. She was highly flushed and
evidently greatly excited. She made straight for me. I thought she was
going to kiss me, I still think that she meant to. I pushed my mother
forward and got into a corner behind the tea table. Miss Battersby
worked off the worst of her emotion on my mother. She must have kissed
her eighteen or twenty times. After that she did not want to do more
than to shake hands with me.

"Lalage has just told me," she said, "and I'm so glad. I happened to be
at the rectory when she came home. She had been looking for me in the
morning, and as soon as I could I went over to her."

"Has she telegraphed to Miss Pettigrew?" I asked.

"Not that I know of," said Miss Battersby; "in fact, I'm sure she
hasn't."

"Then I'll do it myself. I don't see why Lalage should be the only one
to br