d, the cups
and china bowls which were to decorate her room, till sleep would
come again--but in sleep she would still dream of him. Ah, that there
might have been no waking from such dreams!

But in the morning she would come down to breakfast with no trouble
on her outward brow. She was minutely particular in her dress, even
when no one but her grandfather was to see the effects of her toilet.
Her hair was scrupulously neat, her dresses were rich and in the
newest fashion. Her future career was to be that of Lady Harcourt, a
leader of ton; and she was determined to commence her new duties with
a good grace.

And so from week to week, and day to day, she prepared herself for
the sacrifice.

Miss Baker of course returned to Hadley a day or two before the
ceremony. The recent death of old Mr. Gauntlet was Adela's excuse for
not being present. Had there been no such excuse, she would have been
forced to act a bridesmaid's part. It was much better for both of
them that she had not to perform the task.

Bridesmaids were chosen in London--eight of them. These were not
special friends of Caroline's; indeed, it had not been her instinct
to attach to herself special friends. Circumstances had created
friendship between her and Adela, unlike in all things as they were
to each other. But other bosom-friends Caroline had not; nor had she
felt the want of them.

This was perhaps well for her now. It would have driven her to
madness if among the bevy of attendant nymphs there had been any to
whom it would have been necessary for her to open her heart--to open
it, or to pretend to open it. Much she could do; much she was now
doing; much she was prepared to do. But she could not have spoken
with missish rapture of her coming happiness; nor could she, to any
ears, have laid bare the secrets of her bosom.

So eight young ladies were had from London. Two were second-cousins
by her father's side; one, who was very full of the universal joy
that was to follow this happy event, was a sister of Sir Henry's;
a fourth was the daughter of an old crony of Miss Baker's; and the
other four were got to order--there being no doubt a repertory for
articles so useful and so ornamental.

Old Mr. Bertram behaved well on the occasion. He told Miss Baker that
nothing was to be spared--in moderation; and he left her to be sole
judge of what moderation meant. She, poor woman, knew well enough
that she would have at some future day to fight over wi