dden
realization of what she had done in marrying a man whom she
herself declared she did not love come when it was too late?
What do you think?"

Miss Freeman had forgotten herself; but the impetuosity which had
led her into asking my opinion made her forget in another moment
that she had done so. And when in my turn I propounded a question
and inquired whether she ever again saw the boy who besieged the
bride's door with a message, she graciously replied:

"The boy; let me see. Yes, I saw him twice; once in a back hall
talking earnestly to Mr. Jeffrey, and secondly at the carriage
door just before the bridal party rode away. It was Mrs. Jeffrey
who was talking to him then, and I wondered to see him look so
pleased when everybody in and about the house was pale as ashes."

"Do you know the name of that boy?" I carelessly inquired.

"His name? O no. He is one of Raucher's waiters; the curly-haired
one. You see him everywhere; but I don't know his name. Do you
flatter yourself that he can tell you anything that other people
don't know? Why, if he knew the least thing that wasn't in
everybody's mouth, you would have heard from him long ago. Those
men are the greatest gossips in town"--I wonder what she thought
of herself,--"and so proud to be of any importance." This was true
enough, though I did not admit it at the time; and when the interview
was closed and I went away, I have no doubt she considered me quite
the most heavy person she had ever met. But this did not disturb me.
The little facts she had stated were new to me and, repeating my
former method, I was already busy arranging them in my mind. Witness
the result:

1. The ceremony of marriage between Francis Jeffrey and Veronica
Moore was fully three-quarters of an hour late.

2. This was owing to the caprice of the bride, who would not have
any one in the room with her, not even her maid.

3. The bridal bouquet did not figure in the ceremony. In the flurry
of the moment it was forgotten or purposely left behind by the bride.
As this bouquet was undoubtedly the gift of Mr. Jeffrey, the fact
may be significant.

4. She received a message of a somewhat peremptory character before
going below. From whom? Her bridegroom? It would so appear from
the character of the message.

5. The messenger showed great astonishment at the reply he was
given to carry back. Yet he has not been known to mention the
matter. Why? When every one talked