t rise,
and appear below for the first time as mistress in her own house. Also,
she remembered faintly something which Mrs. Dugdale had said about the
custom at Kingcombe--an irrefragable law of country etiquette---of a
bride's going to church for the first time, ceremoniously, in
bridal dress. And no sooner had she descended--wrapped in the first
morning-frock she could lay her hands upon, than Harrie entered.

"So--I am your first visitor you see. Many welcomes to your new home!
And may it prove as happy, as merry--and some day, as full--as ours.
Bless you, my dear little sister!"

She pressed Agatha in her arms with more feeling than Harrie usually
showed. But, for Agatha's salvation, or she would have burst into sobs,
it was only momentary.

"Come, no sentiment! Call in Nathanael, and eat your breakfast quickly,
you atrociously lazy folks! Don't you know you have only half-an-hour
and you must go to church, or all Kingcombe would be talking."

"I meant to go--I shall be ready in two minutes."

"My patience! ready--in such a gown! Come here Nathanael. Are you aware
it's indispensable for your wife to appear at church in wedding costume,
just as she did on that blissful day, when"--

"Hush! I'll do anything you like, only hush!" whispered Agatha. Harrie
laughed, and said something about "sparing her blushes." There were none
to spare--she was as pale as death. What, appear before her husband,
dressed as on the morning when if not altogether a happy bride, she at
least had the hope of making her bridegroom happy, and the comfort of
believing that he loved her and would love her always! The mere thought
of this sent a coldness through all her frame.

Nathanael said, "You told me this before, Harriet. It is an idle custom;
but neither my wife nor myself would wish to go against the world, or
the ways of our own people. Arrange it, as Agatha says, according as you
like."

He had then heard her whisper--he had seen her paleness. How had he
interpreted both?

The church-bells began to ring again, and Harrie prepared to vanish,
though not until she had dressed Agatha, scanned her from top to toe,
vowed the bonnet did not become her a bit, and that she looked as
white as if she were again about to go through the formidable
marriage-service.

"A sad pity!--because to-day you'll be looked at a great deal more than
the clergyman. We are a terribly inquisitive town; and weddings are
scarce at Kingcombe.--Take your wi