Whatever it was which Wilford had to tell Katy Lennox, it was very evident that he and his mother looked at it differently, he regarding it as a duty he owed to Katy not to conceal from her what might possibly influence her decision, while his mother only wished the secret told in hopes that it would prevent the marriage; but now that Wilford had deferred it till after the marriage, she saw no reason why it need be told at all.  At least Wilford could do as he thought best, and she changed the conversation from Genevra to Helen’s letter, which had so upset her plans.  That her future daughter-in-law was handsome she did not doubt, for Wilford said so, and Mrs. Woodhull said so in her letter of congratulation; but she, of course, had no manner, no style, and as a means of improving her in the latter respect, and making her presentable at the altar and in Boston, she had proposed sending out Ryan, as she was called in the family; but that project had failed, and Helen Lennox did not stand very high in the Cameron family, though Wilford in his heart felt an increased respect for her independent spirit, notwithstanding that she had thwarted his designs.

“I have another idea,” Mrs. Cameron said to her daughters that afternoon, when talking with them upon the subject.  “Wilford tells me Katy and Bell are about the same size and figure, and Ryan shall make up a traveling suit proper for the occasion.  Of course there will be no one at the wedding for whom we care, but in Boston, at the Revere, it will be different.  Cousin Harvey boards there, and she is very stylish.  I saw some elegant gray poplins, of the finest luster, at Stewarts yesterday.  Suppose we drive down this afternoon.”

This was said to Juno as the more fashionable one of the sisters, but Bell answered quickly:  “Poplin, mother, on Katy?  It will not become her style, I am sure, though suitable for many.  If I am to be fitted I shall say a word about the fabric.  Get a little checked silk, as expensive as you like.  It will suit her better than a heavy poplin.”

Perhaps Bell was right, Mrs. Cameron said; they would look at both, and as the result of this looking, two dresses, one of the finest poplin, and one of the softest, richest, plaided silk were given the next day into Mrs. Ryan’s hands, with injunctions to spare no pains or expense in trimming and making both.  And so the dressmaking for Katy’s bridal was proceeding in New York, in spite of Helen’s letter; while down in Silverton, at the farmhouse, there were numerous consultations as to what was proper and what was not, Helen sometimes almost wishing she had thrown off her pride and suffered Mrs. Ryan to come.  Katy would look well in anything, but Helen knew there were certain styles preferable to others, and in a maze of perplexity she consulted with this and that individual, until all Silverton knew what was projected, each one offering the benefit of her advice until Helen and Katy both were nearly distracted.