Her aunt was so much absorbed in asking Mr. Henry Lennox—­who had not been able to come to dinner—­all sorts of questions about his brother the bridegroom, his sister the bridesmaid (coming with the Captain from Scotland for the occasion), and various other members of the Lennox family, that Margaret saw she was no more wanted as shawl-bearer, and devoted herself to the amusement of the other visitors, whom her aunt had for the moment forgotten.  Almost immediately, Edith came in from the back drawing-room, winking and blinking her eyes at the stronger light, shaking back her slightly-ruffled curls, and altogether looking like the Sleeping Beauty just startled from her dreams.  Even in her slumber she had instinctively felt that a Lennox was worth rousing herself for; and she had a multitude of questions to ask about dear Janet, the future, unseen sister-in-law, for whom she professed so much affection, that if Margaret had not been very proud she might have almost felt jealous of the mushroom rival.  As Margaret sank rather more into the background on her aunt’s joining the conversation, she saw Henry Lennox directing his look towards a vacant seat near her; and she knew perfectly well that as soon as Edith released him from her questioning, he would take possession of that chair.  She had not been quite sure, from her aunt’s rather confused account of his engagements, whether he would come that night; it was almost a surprise to see him; and now she was sure of a pleasant evening.  He liked and disliked pretty nearly the same things that she did.  Margaret’s face was lightened up into an honest, open brightness.  By-and-by he came.  She received him with a smile which had not a tinge of shyness or self-consciousness in it.

‘Well, I suppose you are all in the depths of business—­ladies’ business, I mean.  Very different to my business, which is the real true law business.  Playing with shawls is very different work to drawing up settlements.

’Ah, I knew how you would be amused to find us all so occupied in admiring finery.  But really Indian shawls are very perfect things of their kind.’

’I have no doubt they are.  Their prices are very perfect, too.  Nothing wanting.’  The gentlemen came dropping in one by one, and the buzz and noise deepened in tone.

’This is your last dinner-party, is it not?  There are no more before Thursday?’

’No.  I think after this evening we shall feel at rest, which I am sure I have not done for many weeks; at least, that kind of rest when the hands have nothing more to do, and all the arrangements are complete for an event which must occupy one’s head and heart.  I shall be glad to have time to think, and I am sure Edith will.’

’I am not so sure about her; but I can fancy that you will. whenever I have seen you lately, you have been carried away by a whirlwind of some other person’s making.’

‘Yes,’ said Margaret, rather sadly, remembering the never-ending commotion about trifles that had been going on for more than a month past:  ’I wonder if a marriage must always be preceded by what you call a whirlwind, or whether in some cases there might not rather be a calm and peaceful time just before it.’