"Not they," dissented Mr. William, who had been accustomed to have things very much his own way, and liked it. "I'm sure you need not raise a barrier on the score of preparation, Mildred. You won't want much beside a dress and bonnet, and my mother can see to yours as well as to Charlotte's. Is it orthodox for the bride and bridesmaid to be dressed alike?" "Who was it fixed upon the bridesmaid?" asked Mildred. "Did you?" "Charlotte herself. But no plans are decided on, for I said as little as I could to my mother. We can go into details another day." "With regard to a bridesmaid, Mary Pembroke has always been promised----" "Now, Mildred, I won't have any of those Pembroke girls playing a conspicuous part at my wedding," he interrupted. "What you and my mother can see in them, I can't think. Provided you have no objection, let it be as Charlotte says." "I think Charlotte takes more upon herself than she has any cause to do," returned Mildred, the old sore feeling against Miss Travice rising again into prominence in her heart. "I'll tell her if you don't mind, Mildred," laughed William. "But now I think of it, it was not Charlotte who mentioned it, it was my mother. She----" "Mr. Peter Arkell." The announcement was Tring's. It cut off William's sentence in the midst, and also any further elucidation that might have taken place. Peter came forward in his usual awkward manner, and was immediately pressed into the service of cribbage, in the place of Miss Travice, who never "put out" to the best advantage, and could not count. As Peter took her seat, he explained that his early appearance was owing to his having remained but an hour with Mr. Arthur Dewsbury, who was going out that evening. Charlotte Travice sat down to the piano, and William got his flute. Sweet music! but, nevertheless, it grated on Mildred's ear. His whole attention became absorbed with Charlotte, to the utter neglect of Mildred. Now and then he seemed to remember that Mildred sat behind, and turned round to address a word to her; but his whispers were given to Charlotte. "It is not right," she murmured to herself in her bitter pain; "this night, of all others, it is not surely right. If she were but going back to London before the wedding!" Supper came in, for they dined early, you remember; and afterwards Mrs. Dan and Mildred had their bonnets brought down. "What a lovely night it is!" exclaimed Peter, as he waited at the hall door. "It is that!" assented William, looking out; "I think I'll have a run with you. Those stars are enough to tempt one forth. Shall I go, Mildred?" "Yes," she softly whispered, believing she was the attraction, not the stars. But Mrs. Dan lingered. The fact was, Mrs. Arkell had drawn her to the back of the hall. "Did you speak to her, Betty?" "I spoke to her as soon as she came home. It was that that made us late." "Well? She does not object to William?"