“Dick, dear Dick, I do not doubt that I shall be happy,” she said softly, lifting to his eyes that were full of happy tears; “if I am not, I am sure it will be no fault of yours.”

But footsteps were heard approaching and he took his arm from her waist and stood beside her with her hand in his.

The door opened and the bridesmaids and groomsmen filed in.  Then there were exclamations of surprise and delight.

“Oh, Maud, how lovely! how lovely!  When and where did you get that beautiful dress and veil?  We all thought you were to be married in your bridesmaid dress that you wore at Rosie’s wedding.”

“And you like this one better? and the veil that goes with it?” Maud returned with a joyous blush and smile.

“Oh, yes, yes, certainly; it is far handsomer, and so becoming!  But how did you get it up so quickly?”

“I didn’t.  It was dear Cousin Elsie’s wedding dress, and she has lent it to me to be married in.  It was just like her—­always so kind and thoughtful of others.”

“That is true, indeed!” said Lucilla; “I do think that in all this world there is not a kinder person than dear Grandma Elsie.”

Just then the little flower girls appeared in the doorway and uttered their exclamations of surprise and delight at the beauty of the bride’s attire.  Their mothers were just behind them, and Violet seemed as much surprised and pleased as the children.  She recognized the dress and veil—­which she had seen a number of times in the course of her life, and was well content that her mother had seen fit to lend them to Maud for this important time when she could not provide such luxuries for herself.

“The dress fits you wonderfully well, Maud; and both it and the veil are very becoming,” Violet said.  “I am glad mamma had them, and thought of producing them for this occasion.”

“Yes, it was very, very kind in Cousin Elsie,” returned the bride, blushing with pleasure.

“And you are all ready to go down now, are you not?” asked Mrs. Dinsmore.  “Everybody is here and waiting for the ceremony to begin.  The appointed hour has come, too, and here is the minister,” as the Rev. Mr. Keith appeared in the doorway.

At that the little procession formed at once and passed down the broad stairway, through the flower-bedecked hall, and into the large parlour where the guests were gathered.

All went well; the ceremony was short but impressive, the congratulations were warm and sincere, and the wedding breakfast that followed a grand affair.  Soon after it was over the bride changed her wedding dress for a neat and pretty travelling one.  Then she and her new-made husband bade good-bye, entered a carriage, and started for a train that was to carry them on their homeward way.

Most of the other relatives from a distance left for their homes during the afternoon or evening.  Captain Keith had announced his intention to leave that night by a later train.  He was to start from Woodburn, so he bade adieu to all the friends but that family, then went home with his friend, Captain Raymond.