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XXX. A Wedding at the Stone House
“Everything’sready,MissShirley,ma’am,andnothingdreadfulhashappenedYET,”wasCharlotta’scheerfulstatementasshebetookherselftoherlittlebackroomtodress.Outcameallthebraids;theresultantrampantcrinklinesswasplaitedintotwotailsandtied,notwithtwobowsalone,butwithfour,ofbrand-newribbon,brightlyblue.ThetwoupperbowsrathergavetheimpressionofovergrownwingssproutingfromCharlotta’sneck,somewhatafterthefashionofRaphael’scherubs.ButCharlottatheFourththoughtthemverybeautiful,andaftershehadrustledintoawhitedress,sostifflystarchedthatitcouldstandalone,shesurveyedherselfinherglasswithgreatsatisfaction...asatisfactionwhichlasteduntilshewentoutinthehallandcaughtaglimpsethroughthespareroomdoorofatallgirlinsomesoftlyclinginggown,pinningwhite,star-likeflowersonthesmoothripplesofherruddyhair.
“Oh,I’llNEVERbeabletolooklikeMissShirley,”thoughtpoorCharlottadespairingly.“Youjusthavetobebornso,Iguess...don’tseem’sifanyamountofpracticecouldgiveyouthatAIR.”
Byoneo’clocktheguestshadcome,includingMr.andMrs.Allan,forMr.AllanwastoperformtheceremonyintheabsenceoftheGraftonministeronhisvacation.Therewasnoformalityaboutthemarriage.MissLavendarcamedownthestairstomeetherbridegroomatthefoot,andashetookherhandsheliftedherbigbrowneyestohiswithalookthatmadeCharlottatheFourth,whointerceptedit,feelqueererthanever.Theywentouttothehoneysucklearbor,whereMr.
