ra, cutting short Electra's
torrent of words. "Don't you feel that this is no ordinary wedding? The
occasion, if not a sorrowful one, is at least very serious. Come, I will
take you with me to my own room. We are to lodge together in the
south-west room, as usual."

"But are you to be a bride-maid?" persisted the "little Bohemian."

"Yes; and to wear my white tarletan dress and white rose wreath,"
answered Laura, as they went off together.

"Where's Emma, and what's she doing? as I asked you some time ago."

"She is in her chamber, dressing for the ceremony."

"She hasn't got her wedding-dress made yet; that I know. What's she
going to be married in?"

"She will wear her white satin trained dress, with white lace overdress,
which she had made for the last May ball, you remember."

"Oh, yes! I didn't think of that."

"And she will wear that rich, priceless cardinal point-lace veil that
was her mother's. And she will wear her grandmother's rare oriental
pearls. There, you little gipsy! Are you answered?"

"Yes. And she will be magnificent and splendid, even if she is gotten up
in a hurry," said Electra, as she followed her companion into their
room.

Alden Lytton, under the unusual circumstances attending the sudden
wedding, and in the surprise of his own unexpected happiness, had not
once thought of the necessity of making a proper toilet for the
occasion. But when he heard the girls, who never, under any
circumstances, forget such a matter, talking of their dress, he glanced
down at his own suit, and then hurried off as fast as he could to his
room to improve his appearance.

While the younger members of the family party were at their toilets, Dr.
Beresford Jones was in the "Throne Room," closeted with his mother.

Madam Cavendish, weak as she was, had insisted upon being arrayed
grandly, to do honor to the wedding of the only daughter of the house.

She wore a rich crimson brocade dressing-gown, a costly camel's-hair
shawl, and a fine point-lace cap. She now reclined very wearily in her
easy-chair, and held in her hand the vial of ammonia, which she applied
to her nose from time to time.

After a little while she said to her son:

"Go and inquire if they are nearly ready, Beresford. I fear--I fear my
strength will scarcely hold out," she faltered, faintly.

Dr. Jones opened the door to go upon this errand, and immediately
perceived that it was unnecessary.

John Lytton and Mr. Lyle were coming up t