. There was a bright
colour in my cheeks and my eyes were bright; but I had a swimming in my
head and I felt hot and cold by turns. I saw that I was splendid, for
Margaret had put on me as many as she could of the jewels with which my
lover loaded me, which used to lie about so carelessly that my
grandmother had rebuked me saying I should be robbed of them one of
these days. I hated them as though they had been my purchase-money; and
I had scandalized Margaret only the night before by letting my necklace
of emeralds and diamonds fall to the floor and lie there.

As I went down the stairs I met one or two of the servants, who drew to
one side to let me pass and lifted their hands in admiration. Margaret
walked behind me, being fearful, I think, that in my present mood I
might let the long train sweep the stairs and corridors instead of
carrying it demurely over my arm.

I paused for a moment outside the drawing-room door which stood ajar,
and I could hear my lover's deep voice within. Margaret let down my
train for me and I went in, up the long drawing-room to where my
grandmother sat in her easy-chair by the fire and Richard Dawson stood
on the hearthrug with his back to it.

As I came up the room I felt again the swimming of my head and things
swayed about me for an instant. Then I recovered myself.

Between the painted panels of the drawing-room at Aghadoe there are long
mirrors, in the taste of the time which could imagine nothing so
decorative as a mirror. In every one of them I saw myself repeated, a
slight, white figure scintillating with gems.

I had thrown back my veil and I saw the proud delight in my lover's
face. He advanced a step or two to meet me and I heard my grandmother
say--

"What a colour you have, child, and how bright your eyes are!"

He took up my hands and lifted them to his lips. Then he cried out, and
I heard his voice as though it was at a great distance.

"She is not well, Lady St. Leger," he said, and there was a sharp note
of anxiety in his tone. "Her hands were icy cold and now they are hot."

At the same moment some one came into the room and to my side. It was
Maureen, and I saw that she was very angry.

"I didn't believe it when that fool of a Katty told me," she said.
"Whoever heard of luck comin' to a bride who wore her wedding-dress
before the day? It only needs now for Miss Bawn to go runnin' back for
something after she leaves the house a bride. Sure, isn't there
misfor