Of what came next I have only a faint remembrance. There was a rustling of satin upon the narrow stair-case, down which Lizzie and I went a little in advance of Richard and John Thompson, the latter of whom said something in a low tone about _hoops_ and the space they occupied! this remark shocked _me_ inexpressibly, but Richard didn’t seem to mind it at all. As we passed the front door, the cool night wind (for it was evening) blew over my face, reminding me of the South, it was so soft and balmy. When we entered the parlor, I was conscious of a goodly number of eyes fixed upon me, and as I crossed over to a vacant spot under the looking glass I heard more than one say in a whisper, “Isn’t she pretty?” meaning Lizzie, I suppose! Then a man, whom I recognized as the new Episcopal clergyman (I believe I’ve never said that Richard was an Episcopalian) stood up before us and said something about “_You Richard_—and _You Rose_,” after which Richard placed a ring upon my finger squeezing my hand a very little as he did so. Then followed a short prayer, in which I fancied the minister made a mistake in our names, inasmuch as he spoke of _Isaac_ and _Rebecca_ instead of _Richard_ and _Rose_! This being done I glanced at the bridegroom. There was no scowl upon his forehead now, and I could see the light shining out all over his face as he bent down and gently whispered “_my wife!_” This dispelled the clouds at once, and as guest after guest crowded around, offering their congratulations, while Charlie and John Thompson vied with each other in repeating my new name, I began to realize that I was no longer Rosa Lee, but _Mrs. Richard Delafield_. CHAPTER XXXI. SUNNY BANK. For a few days we lingered at my mother’s fireside, and then, with the fall of the first snowflake, we left for our southern home; Richard promising my mother, who was loth to give me up, that when the summer birds came back and _roses_ were blooming again by the door, he would bring his _Rose_ to breathe once more the air of her native hills. We stopped at New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, and it was not until the holidays were passed that we landed at last at Charleston and took the cars for W—— which we reached about dark.