But come, you
must have some roses."
As Helen joined us, very pale in her shimmering dress, with her hair like
an aureole about her head, she looked a tall, white Grace, a swaying lily
shining in the dusky place. Almost with the old reverence I whispered:--
"You are the most beautiful of woman!"
"Do I please you, Sir?" she said, smiling as she moved away again with
Kitty. "Won't you see to Father? He's come without his necktie."
"Sho, Sis!" said Mr. Winship; "don't my beard hide it? Declare I clean
forgot."
Soon Helen returned to pin a flower at my button-hole.
"Where _can_ Cadge be?" she cried gaily; but her hands shook and she
dropped the rose. "Do you suppose she's interviewing a lunatic asylum?"
What had changed her voice and burned fever spots in her cheeks? I wasn't
so indifferent as I had seemed to Kitty's news. Had she told Helen, too,
that Ned Hynes--what was he to my betrothed?
"Can't you rest somewhere and just show for the ceremony?" I said, "Nelly,
you're not strong."
"There's not a place big enough for a mouse. But did you mean it? Do I
really look well to-night? Am I just as beautiful as I was three-four
months ago, or have I--"
"Oh, do slip out and 'phone the _Star_! I can feel my hair
whitening," whispered Kitty, turning to me hastily, as a couple of women
entered.
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