“It seems like an eternity!” I said, discontentedly.

“It is the most picturesque season of the year for a wedding,” said Lady Thesiger, “I like the holly and evergreens even better than summer flowers.”

So it was settled; Clare agreed with Lady Thesiger that Crown Anstey required preparation for a bride.

“Those reception rooms want refurnishing,” said my sister.  “Of course, after your marriage you will give parties and balls.  You will have to show hospitality to all the county, Edgar.”

Half to my consternation, she said this before Coralie.  I looked at her hastily, wondering how she would take it.  Her beautiful face was quite calm, and wore an expression of pleased interest.

“Do you agree with me, Coralie?” asked my unsuspecting sister.

“Certainly; there is no position in the county equal to that of Lady Trevelyan of Crown Anstey.”

“How strange it is, Edgar, that you should be married, and your wife Lady Trevelyan!  Sometimes it seems to me all a dream.”

“Dreams come and go so lightly,” said Coralie, with that smile which always made me slightly afraid.

The remainder of that day we spent in making out a long list of all things needful.  Coralie’s taste was paramount.  She decided upon little matters of elegance we never even thought of.  It was she who strongly advised me to send to London for Mr. Dickson, the well-known decorator.

“He will arrange a suite of rooms so perfectly that you will hardly know them,” she said.

So it was decided.  Mr. Dickson came, and when he found there was to be no limit either to time, expense, money, or anything else, he promised me something that should make Crown Anstey famous.  All things went on perfectly.  The magnificent preparations making for my darling occupied my time most happily.  It was now almost the end of November, and our marriage was to take place on the 26th of December.  Mr. Dickson and his army of workmen had taken their departure, and the rooms prepared for my wife were beyond all praise.

The boudoir was hung in blue and silver; it was a perfect little fairyland; nothing was wanting to make it a nest of luxury.  The boudoir opened into a pretty little library, where all the books that I thought would please Agatha were arranged.  There was a dressing-room, a bath-room and a sleeping-room, all en suite.  Mr. Dickson had improvised a pretty flight of stairs leading into a small conservatory, and that opened into the garden.

When the pictures, the flowers, the statues, the rich hangings and the graceful ornaments were all arranged, I was more pleased than I had been for some time.  Lady Thesiger came over to look at them, but my darling was not to see them until they were her own.

There was an unpleasant duty to perform.  What was to be done with Coralie?  Knowing Lady Thesiger’s opinion of her, I felt sure she would never allow her daughter to live in the same house.  What was to be done with her?  Where was she to go?  I did not know in the least what to suggest.  I was perfectly willing to offer her a very handsome allowance, knowing that, as Sir Barnard’s charge, she had some claim on me.