Clover’s one great subject of concern was the fear that it might rain.  There was a little haze about the sunset the night before, and she expressed her intention to Cousin Helen of lying awake all night to see how things looked.

“I really feel as if I could not bear it if it should storm,” she said, “after all this fine weather too; and I know I shall not sleep a wink, anyway.”

“I think we can trust God to take care of the weather even on Katy’s wedding-day,” replied Cousin Helen, gently.

And after all it was she who lay awake.  Pain had made her a restless sleeper, and as her bed commanded the great arch of western sky, she saw the moon, a sharp-curved silver shape, descend and disappear a little before midnight.  She roused again when all was still, solemn darkness except for a spangle of stars, and later, opened her eyes in time to catch the faint rose flush of dawn reflected from the east.  She raised herself on her elbow to watch the light grow.

“It is a fair day for the child,” she whispered to herself.  “How good God is!” Then she slept again for a long, restful space, and woke refreshed, so that Katy’s secret fear that Cousin Helen might be ill from excitement, and not able to come to her wedding, was not realized.

Clover, meantime, had slept soundly all night.  She and Katy shared the same room, and waked almost at the same moment.  It was early still; but the sisters felt bright and rested and ready for work, so they rose at once.

They dressed in silence, after a little whispered rejoicing over the beautiful morning, and in silence took their Bibles and sat down side by side to read the daily portion which was their habit.  Then hand in hand they stole downstairs, disturbing nobody, softly opened doors and windows, carried bowls and jars out on the porch, and proceeded to arrange a great basket full of roses which had been brought the night before, and set in the dew-cool shade of the willows to keep fresh.

Before breakfast all the house had put on festal airs.  Summer had come early to Burnet that year; every garden was in bud and blossom, and every one who had flowers had sent their best to grace Katy’s wedding.  The whole world seemed full of delicious smells.  Each table and chimney-piece bore a fragrant load; a great bowl of Jacqueminots stood in the middle of the breakfast-table, and two large jars of the same on the porch, where Clover had arranged various seats and cushions that it might serve as a sort of outdoor parlor.

Nobody who came to that early breakfast ever forgot its peace and pleasantness and the sweet atmosphere of affection which seemed to pervade everything about it.  After breakfast came family prayers as usual, Dr. Carr reading the chapter, and the dear old commodore joining with a hearty nautical voice in,—­

    “Awake my soul! and with the sun,”

which was a favorite hymn with all of them.  Ned shared Katy’s book, and his face and hers alone would have been breakfast enough for the company if everything else had failed, as Rose remarked to Clover in a whisper, though nobody found any fault with the more substantial fare which Debby had sent in previously.  Somehow this little mutual service of prayer and praise seemed to fit in with the spirit of the day, and give it its keynote.