“Why, that of your classmate and double, Mr. Geoffrey Huntress, and my dear friend, Gladys. I am astonished that you have not heard of it,” said Miss Addie, really surprised that he should not have received cards for the marriage. “Ah! So Huntress is going to marry Miss Gladys, is he? Pray, what _name_ will he bestow upon the lady?” the young man asked, with a curl of his handsome lips. “Why, of course, there will be no change of name—Geoff was legally adopted by Mr. Huntress, so that makes everything all right,” returned Miss Loring, looking a trifle displeased at the slur that had been cast at her friend’s betrothed. “Then the groom-elect has never been able to discover the secret of his parentage?” Everet remarked, inquiringly. “I think not.” “Are _you_ pleased with this match, Miss Loring?” “Of course I am—I think Geoffrey Huntress is a magnificent man,” she affirmed, emphatically. “It would, doubtless, be a great comfort to him to have the mystery of his birth solved; but it doesn’t matter, really—they love each other devotedly, and will make a splendid couple.” Everet winced under these last words, but deemed it wiser to keep his sneers and slurs to himself. “I suppose it—the wedding—will be a very grand affair?” he remarked. “Very; there are to be six bridesmaids, of whom I am to be the chief,” responded Miss Addie, with animation. “They will be married in Plymouth Church.” “In _church_!” interposed Everet, with an eager look. “Will it be in the evening?” “Yes, in the early evening—at five o’clock—and they will receive from six until eight. Mr. Huntress has spared no expense to make it a very brilliant affair. But I am surprised—I supposed, having been a classmate, you would have received cards for the wedding, Mr. Mapleson,” Miss Loring concluded. “No, I have not been honored. Will the happy couple settle in New York?” “Really, Mr. Mapleson, you _are_ behind the times,” laughed his companion. “No, indeed, they sail the next day, at twelve, for Europe, to be gone for six months. Will not that be delightful? If the course of true love never ran smoothly before, it has done so in this case, for there has been nothing to mar it from the beginning.” Everet Mapleson’s eyes gleamed strangely at this, and a spot of bright color leaped into his cheeks. “On what steamer do they sail?” he inquired. “On the Scythia, from Boston, owing to some business connected with that city. That is why the marriage and reception are set so early; they leave New York on an evening train, and will arrive in Boston early the next morning. Oh!” concluded the young lady, with a sigh, “I shall miss Gladys more than I can tell you.” “No doubt,” Everet observed; and then, after conversing a few moments longer upon indifferent topics, having obtained all the points he wished, he arose to take his leave. His chief object in calling had been to assure himself that he had not been misinformed regarding any of the details of the approaching marriage.