"Le! Le! what's the matter? I do believe you do care, after all." "Hush, Elva," said the youth, in a whisper. "Le! if you do care, you can forbid the banns, on account of that engagement of yours. You can, indeed! Wynnette and I have been reading over the marriage service in the prayer book, and there is a place where it says, 'If any man here present can show cause'----You know why it shouldn't be done, it wouldn't be done, and there an end! And I am sure you could show cause, Le!" "Yes, dear; but I won't!" Le replied. "Elva! If you don't stir your stumps--I mean hurry up--you won't be ready in time!" called Wynnette, from the bannister above. Elva broke away, and ran upstairs. And then began the toil of the toilets. Every bedchamber was occupied as a dressing room. Col. Anglesea, under the hands of his valet, was preparing himself in his own apartment. Le, in his little den, was dressing unassisted. Mr. Force, in a little closet adjoining his wife's room, was shaved and brushed and polished up by Jake, his "body servant." Mrs. Force, with the assistance of her maid Luce, first dressed her daughter Odalite, and seating her on her large easy chair, left her while she dressed herself. Miss Meeke, in the children's room, first made their toilets and then her own. By half-past nine o'clock all the women of the family were assembled in the drawing room waiting for the gentlemen and the carriages. The white, cold, still bride wore a trained dress of white velvet, made high in the neck and long in the sleeves, and trimmed with swansdown; a wreath of orange blossoms; a veil of white Spanish lace. A servant stood near her holding a large white fur cloak, with hood and muff, to be worn in the carriage. The two little bridesmaids wore dresses of white cashmere, also made with high neck and long sleeves, and trimmed with white satin. They carried large white woolen wraps, to be worn in the carriage. Mrs. Force wore a rich purple velvet dress, with a bonnet to match, and an India shawl. Miss Meeke wore a dark brown silk, and brown velvet jacket and hat. The gentlemen appeared, and the carriages were announced almost at the same moment. "Have you had foot-warmers put in the ladies' coach?" inquired Mr. Force of the servant in attendance. "Yes, sah, an' in all ob 'em," the man replied. "Come, my dear," the father said, taking the white fur cloak from the waiting woman and wrapping it carefully around his daughter before leading her out. Col. Anglesea gave his arm to Mrs. Force, and Le to Miss Meeke, while the two little girls followed arm in arm. Three carriages were drawn up before the house. The bride-elect, with her father and mother, occupied the first; the two young bridesmaids, with their governess, the second; and the bridegroom, with his groomsman, the third. And in this order they left the house and took the road leading to All Faith Church.