Violet afterward, seizing a momentary opportunity when neither Mr. Lilburn nor Annis was near, told of her plans in regard to the wedding, adding that the subject had not yet been mentioned to Annis, but that she herself hoped no objection would be raised; and it seemed to her that Cyril’s arrival, thus providing a minister to perform the ceremony, the very one Annis would have chosen of course, seemed providential.

At first both brother and sisters were decidedly opposed to it—­they wanted Annis to be married at home where all the family could be gathered to witness the ceremony; it was bad enough to lose her without being deprived of that privilege; besides time and thought must be given to the preparation of a suitable trousseau.  But in the course of a day or two they were won over to the plan.

Then the consent of those most particularly interested had to be gained.  There was no difficulty so far as concerned Mr. Lilburn; he was really delighted with the idea, but Annis at first positively refused.  She wished to be married at home and she must have a trousseau:  not that she cared so much about it for herself, but Mr. Lilburn must not be disgraced by a bride not suitably adorned.

“Well, Annis dear,” said Mildred, who was the one selected for the task of obtaining her consent to the proposed plan, “you shall have all that you desire in the way of dress.  I would not have you do without a single thing you want or think would be suitable and becoming.  You shall have abundance of money to make such purchases without applying to your husband for any one of them.  You have some money of your own, you know, and it will be a great pleasure to your brothers and sisters to give to the dear girl who was such a help and comfort to our loved father and mother, anything and everything she wants, and will accept at our hands.”

“Yes, I know I have the best and kindest of brothers and sisters, and oh, I can hardly keep the tears back when I think of the separation that awaits us,” said Annis with a sob, putting her arms round Mildred’s neck and clinging to her.

“Yes, dear, I know.  I feel just the same, though I believe you will be very happy with the kind, genial old gentleman who is stealing you away from us; but I can see that he is in great haste to get full possession of his dear little lady-love—­at which I do not wonder at all—­and I really think it would be better to take the plunge into matrimony suddenly and have it over,” she added, with a smile.

“Have what over?” asked Annis, smiling faintly.

“Not the matrimony,” laughed her sister, “but the plunge into it.”

“Oh, Milly dear, you wouldn’t have liked to be hurried so!”

“Ah, but wasn’t I?” laughed Mildred; “and that by this very brother of ours who expects to perform the ceremony for you.”

“Ah, I don’t remember about that,” returned Annis, in a tone of enquiry.

“No, you were such a little girl then that I don’t wonder it has slipped your memory.  But Cyril was about starting for college and so determined to see me married, so fearful that he would miss the sight if he went off before-hand, that he coaxed, planned, and insisted till he actually gained his point—­hurrying me into wedlock before I had even one wedding dress made up.”