“You don’t act in the least like a young lady who is to be married to-morrow,” was Ester’s answer, as she regarded her cousin with a half amused, half puzzled air.

“Don’t I?” said Abbie, trying to look alarmed.  “What have I done now?  I’m forever treading on bits of propriety, and crushing them.  It will be a real relief to me when I am safely married, and can relapse into a common mortal again.  Why, Ester, what have I been guilty of just now?”

“You are not a bit sentimental; are you, Abbie?” And at this gravely put question Abbie’s laugh rang out again.

“Now don’t, please, add that item to the list,” she said merrily.  “Ester, is it very important that one should be sentimental on such an occasion?  I wish you were married, I really do, so that I might be told just how to conduct my self.  How can you and mother be so unreasonable as to expect perfection when it is all new, and I really never practiced in my life?” Then a change, as sudden as it was sweet, flushed over Abbie’s face.  The merry look died out, and in its place a gentle, tender softness rested in the bright blue eyes, and her voice was low and quiet.  “You think my mood a strange one, I fancy, dear Ester; almost unbecoming in its gayety.  Perhaps it is, and yet I feel it bright and glad and happy.  The change is a solemn one, but it seems to me that I have considered it long and well.  I remember that my new home is to be very near my old one; that my brother will have a patient, faithful, life-long friend in Mr. Foster, and this makes me feel more hopeful for him—­and, indeed, it seems to me that I feel like repeating, ‘The lines have fallen unto me in pleasant places.’  I do not, therefore, affect a gravity that I do not feel.  I am gloriously happy to-night, and the strongest feeling in my heart is thankfulness.  My Heavenly Father has brimmed my earthly cup, so that it seems to me there is not room in my heart for another throb of joy; and so you see—­Ester, what on earth can be going on down stairs?  Have you noticed the banging of doors, and the general confusion that reigns through the house?  Positively if I wasn’t afraid of shocking mother into a fainting fit I would start on a voyage of discovery.”

“Suppose I go,” Ester answered, laughing.  “Inasmuch as I am not going to be married, there can be no harm in seeing what new developments there are below stairs.  I mean to go.  I’ll send you word if it is any thing very amazing.”

And with a laughing adieu Ester closed the door on the young bride-elect, and ran swiftly down stairs.  There did seem to be a good deal of confusion in the orderly household, and the very air of the hall seemed to be pervaded with a singular subdued excitement; voices of suppressed loudness issued from the front parlor and as Ester knocked she heard a half scream from Mrs. Ried, mingled with cries of “Don’t let her in.”  Growing thoroughly alarmed, Ester now abruptly pushed open the door and entered.