The pretty ceremony under the roses was over, and Starr had gone upstairs to change the simple embroidered muslin for her travelling frock and motor coat, for Michael and Starr were to take their honeymoon in their own new car, a wedding gift from their father; and Endicott himself was to go to his sister’s by rail in the company of Will French, to stay during their absence and be picked up by them on their homeward route. Michael stood among his friends on the piazza giving last directions to French who was to look after his law business also during his absence, and who was eager to tell his friend how he and Hester had planned to be married early in the fall and were to go to housekeeping in a five-roomed flat that might have been a palace from the light in Will’s eyes. Hester was talking with Lizzie who had edged near the porch with her pretty boy hiding shyly behind her, but the smile that Hester threw in Will’s direction now and then showed she well knew what was his subject of conversation. All the little colony had been gathered in the orchard in front of the rose arch, to watch the wedding ceremony, and many of them still lingered there to see the departure of the beloved bride and groom. Aunt Frances levelled her lorgnette at them with all the airs of her departed sister, and exclaimed “Aren’t they picturesque? It’s quite like the old country to have so many servants and retainers gathered about adoring, now isn’t it!” And a young and eager debutante who was a distant cousin of Starr’s. replied: “I think it’s perfectly peachy, Aunt Frances.” Suddenly in one of Will’s eager perorations about the flat and its outlook Michael noticed the shy, eager look of Sam’s face as he waited hungrily for notice. “Excuse me, Will, I must see Sam a minute,” said Michael hurrying over to where the man stood. “Say, Mikky,” said Sam shyly, grasping Michael’s hand convulsively, “me an’ Lizzie sort o’ made it up as how we’d get tied, an’ we thought we’d do it now whiles everybody’s at it, an’ things is all fixed Lizzie she wanted me to ask you ef you ’sposed _she’d_ mind, ef we’uns stood thur on the verandy whur yous did, arter you was gone?” Sam looked at him anxiously as though he had asked the half of Michael’s kingdom and scarcely expected to get it, but Michael’s face was filled with glory as he clasped the small hard hand of his comrade and gripped it with his mighty hearty grip. “Mind! She’d be delighted, Sam! Go ahead. I’m sorry we didn’t know it before. We’d have liked to give you a present, but I’ll send you the deed of the little white cottage at the head of the lane, the one that looks toward the river and the sunset, you know. Will you two like to live there?” Sam’s eyes grew large with happiness, and a mist came over them as he held tight to the great hand that enclosed his own, and choked and tried to answer.