d I fell to the floor as if shot. Instantly
windows flew up, and as each head appeared the infuriated woman accused
it of having thrown the bottle. I reached for the Angel's hand as we
grovelled on the floor, and our former spirit returned as indignant
denials were followed by more indignant slamming of windows.

Finally--silence. Two hands sneaked up in the darkness and pulled our
window down.

"We could prove an alibi," I giggled, "for Mary would go on the stand and
swear that I was in bed prostrated with a headache!"

The next night the soup was on the table at five minutes before seven,
and we heard that the white dog was laid up for a week with an "_attaque
des nerfs_."

"Who would have thought," I sighed, in delight, "of the luck of fetching
Mary and that white dog both in one evening!"

CHAPTER VI

THE BEST MAN'S STORY

Trouble began to brew for the best man at my bridesmaid's dinner, but
it was all his fault. He says it was mine.

I claim, and I think that all girls will support me in this theory,
that at all wedding functions, such as teas, receptions, luncheons, and
dinners, the best man owes the maid of honour the first and most of his
attentions. It is her due, and no matter whether he likes her or hates
her; no matter if he is already in love with another girl, or sees one
there that he would like to be in love with, he belongs, for the
wedding festivities, to the first bridesmaid. It is like the girl your
hostess assigns to you at dinner,--you _must_ be nice to her.

So Cary Farquhar thought, and so I think. Artie Beguelin said:

"Then you oughtn't to have invited Flora Forsyth to the bridesmaid's
dinner."

Well, perhaps I oughtn't. But I did, because she asked to come. One
can't refuse a request of that sort. Even Aubrey admits that.

Flora was a dreamy, trusting blonde. She was an innocent appearing
little thing, and although she was just out of college, I believed she
would faint at the idea of a cigarette in a girl's fingers or any of
the mad things college girls are supposed to do when larking. She had
no sense of humour, and I simply could not think of her as up to any
mischief. That is why, when she said she had fallen in love with me, I
believed her. She knew I was to have Cary for my only attendant, but
she begged so innocently to come to the bridesmaid's dinner and to sit
with the family behind the white ribbon, that I hadn't the heart to say
no. That is why sh