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other children； who were greatly delighted。
Flora's last home Sunday！ She was pale and serious； evidently
feeling much； though seeking no tete…a…tetes； and chiefly engrossed
with waiting on Margaret； or fondling little Gertrude。 No one saw
the inside of her mindprobably； she did not herself。 On the
outside was a very suitable pensiveness； and affection for all that
she was leaving。 The only one in the family to whom she talked much
was Norman； who continued to see many perfections in George； and
contrived； by the force of his belief； to impress the same on the
others； and to make them think his great talent for silence such a
proof of his discretion； that they were not staggered； even by his
shy blundering exclamation that his wedding would be a great
nuisancea phrase which； as Dr。 May observed； was； to him； what
Est…il…possible was to his namesake of Denmark。
Nobody wished for any misgivings； so Richard was never told of any；
though there was a careful watch kept to see what were his first
impressions。 None transpired； except something about good nature；
but it was shrewdly believed that Richard and George； being much
alike in shy unwillingness to speak； had been highly satisfied with
the little trouble they had caused to each other； and so had come to
a tacit esteem。
There was very little bustle of preparation。 Excepting the packing；
everything went on much as usual； till the Thursday morning； and then
the children were up early； refreshing the Christmas hollies； and
working up their excitement； only to have it damped by the suppressed
agitation of their elders at the breakfast…table。
Dr。 May did not seem to know what he was about； and Flora looked
paler and paler。 She went away before the meal was over； and when
Ethel went to the bedroom； shortly after； she found that she had
fairly broken down； and was kneeling beside Margaret's sofa； resting
her head on her sister's bosom； and sobbingas Ethel had never seen
her weep； except on that dreadful night； after their mother's death。
In a person ordinarily of such self…command as Flora； weeping was a
terrible thing； and Margaret was much distressed and alarmed； but the
worst had passed before Ethel came up； and Flora was able to speak。
〃Oh！ Margaret！ I cannot leave you！ Oh！ how happy we have been〃
〃You are going to be happier； we trust； dearest；〃 said Margaret
fondly。
〃Oh！ what have I done？ It is not worth it！〃
Ethel thought she caught those words； but no more。 Mary's step was
heard； and Flora was on her feet； instantly； composing herself
rapidly。 She shed no more tears； but her eyelids were very heavy；
and her face softened； in a manner that； though she was less pretty
than usual； was very becoming under her bridal veil。 She recovered
calmness and even cheerfulness； while reversing the usual order of
things； and dressing her bride's…maids； who would never have turned
out fit to be seen； but for the exertions of herself； Margaret； and
Miss Bracy。 Ethel's long Scotch bones and Mary's round； dumpy
shapelessness were； in their different ways； equally hard to
overcome； and the one was swelled out with a fabulous number of
petticoats； and the other pinched in； till she gasped and screamed
for mercy； while Blanche and Gertrude danced about； beautiful to
behold； under their shady hats； and presently； with a light tap at
the door； Meta Rivers stepped in； looking so pretty； that all felt
that to try to attain to such an appearance was vain。
Timid in her affection； she hardly dared to do more than kiss them；
and whisper her pretty caressing words to each。 There was no more
timeDr。 Hoxton's carriage was come to take up the bride。
Ethel did as she was told； without much volition of her own； and she
quitted the carriage； and was drawn into her place by Norman；
trusting that Meta would not let her do wrong； and relieved that just
in front of her were the little ones； over whose heads she could see
her father； with Flora's veiled bending figure。
That pause while the procession was getting into order； the slow
movement up the centre aisle； the week…day atmosphere of the church；
brought back to her thoughts a very different time； and one of those
strange echoings on the mind repeated in her ears the words； 〃For man
walketh in a vain shadow； and disquieteth himself in vain〃
There was a little pauseGeorge did not seem to be forthcoming； and
Meta turned round； rather uneasily； and whispered something about his
having been so nervous。 However； there he was； looking exceedingly
red； and very sheepish； and disposed to fall back on his best man；
Norman； whose countenance was at the brightestand almost handsome。
Dr。 Hoxton performed the ceremony； 〃assisted by〃 Richard。 It had
been Flora's choice； and his loud sonorous voice was thought very
impressive。 Blanche stood the nearest； and looked happy and
important； with Flora's glove。 Gertrude held Mary's hand； and gazed
straight up into the fretted roof； as if that were to her the chief
marvel。 Ethel stood and knelt； but did not seem； to herself； to have
the power of thinking or feeling。 She saw and heardthat was all；
she could not realise。
They drew her forward； when it was over； to sign her name； as
witness。 She took up the pen； looked at the Flora May； written for
the last time； and found her hand so trembling； that she said； half
smiling； that she could not write。 Mary was only too well pleased to
supply the deficiency。 Dr。 May looked at her anxiously； and asked
whether she felt overcome。
〃No； papa。 I did not know my hand was shaky。〃
He took it into his； and pressed it。 Ethel knew； then； how much had
been undeveloped in her own mind； catching it； as it were； from his
touch and look。 The thought of his past joythe sad fading of hope
for Margaretthe fear and doubt for their present brideabove all；
the sense that the fashion of this world passeth away； and that it is
not the outward scene； but our bearing in it； that is to last for
ever。
The bells struck up； each peal ending with a crash that gave Ethel
some vague idea of fatality； and they all came back to the house；
where Margaret was ready； in the drawing…room； to receive them；
looking very pretty； in her soft blue dress； which especially became
her fair complexion and light brown hair。 Ethel did not quite like
the pink colour on her cheeks； and feared that she had been shaken by
Flora's agitation in the morning； but she was very calm and bright；
in the affectionate greeting with which she held out her hands to the
bride and bridegroom； as they came in。
Mr。 Rivers and Meta were the only guests； and； while Meta was seized
by the children； Margaret lay talking to Mr。 Rivers； George standing
upright and silent behind her sofa； like a sentinel。 Flora was gone
to change her dress； not giving way； but nervous and hurried； as she
reiterated parting directions about household comforts to Ethel； who
stood by the toilette…table； sticking a pin into the pincushion and
drawing it out again； as if solely intent on making it always fit
into the same hole； while Mary dressed Flora； packed； flew about； and
was useful。
As they came downstairs； Ethel