the same train with Mark and Mrs.
Banker, had power to reassure her by telling her that charlotte russe
was not essential at all; that, for her part, she was glad to have it
out of sight, as it was her especial detestation. This comforted Aunt
Betsy, who had made many of her preparations for the wedding with a
direct reference to the "city folks" so confidently expected. The
substantials were for the neighbors--those who would have no supper at
home, but reserve their appetites for the wedding viands; while the
delicacies, the knickknacks, were designed exclusively for "them
stuck-up critters, the Camerons," not one of whom, it now seemed, would
be present except Bell. Father Cameron was not able to come; he would
gladly have done so if he could, and he sent his blessing to Katy, with
the wish that she might be very happy in her second married life. This
message Bell gave to Katy, and then tried to form some reasonable excuse
for her mother's and Juno's absence, for she could not tell how
haughtily both had declined the invitation, Juno finding fault because
Katy had not waited longer than two years, and Mrs. Cameron blaming her
for being so very vulgar as to be married at home, instead of in church,
where she ought to be. On this point Katy herself had been a little
disquieted, feeling how much more appropriate it was that she be married
in the church, but shrinking from standing again a bride at the same
altar where she had once before been made a wife. She could not do it,
she finally decided; there would be too many harrowing memories crowding
upon her mind, and as Morris did not particularly care where the
ceremony was performed, provided he got Katy at the last, it was settled
that it should be at the house, even though Mrs. Deacon Bannister did
say that she had supposed Dr. Grant too High Church to do anything as
Presbyterianny as that.

Bell's arrival at the farmhouse was timely, for the unexpected
appearance in their midst of one whom they looked upon as surely dead
had stunned and bewildered the family to such an extent that it needed
the presence of just such a matter-of-fact, self-possessed woman as
Bell to bring things back to their original shape. It was wonderful how
the city girl fitted into the vacant niches, seeing to everything which
needed seeing to, and still finding time to steal away alone with
Lieutenant Bob, who kept her in a painful state of blushing by
constantly wishing it was his bridal nig