Who first blessed womankind with that artful covering? This question I put to Pearl, and, of course, she did not know, but when I said that she must wear a picture-hat at her own wedding, she smiled. She thought this some subtle flattery, though I spoke in all sincerity, having seen her that very day gowned as she will be when she follows the Duchess of Nocastle down the aisle. Ethel Bumpschus is wise. She is putting her close friends in good seats with the family while she will lead up the aisle five of the fairest of the town. Angelica Clime and Gladys Tumbleton, Clarissa Mudison and Emily Lumpley, Hebes every one, with Pearl Veal still more glorious, will turn all eyes from the tiny Duke and his towering bride. I should like to stand in a pew and watch them myself as they move down the flowery pathway, for I am still simple enough to find more charm in a lovely face than in a lovely voice or a pedigree. But I shall have to follow them, to be of the unfortunate four who risk everything to gain nothing, who win undying hatred by putting aunts with the old family servants, husbands next former wives, and mere business friends where the cousins ought to be; that bring on themselves the ridicule of the society-writers who hover on the outskirts of the charmed circle and scoff at us because we wear pink waistcoats and white spats. No, I do not suppose that I shall wear a pink waistcoat and white spats at my own wedding. Heaven knows I would rather choose tennis flannels, but I must follow orders for the Bumpschus nuptials, and we will do things for a duke that we would do for no other man, particularly when we contemplate spending a season in London. I do not think his Grace has any ideas even on clothes, but attribute the pink waistcoats to Ethel, and the white spats to her brother Williegilt. She wants pink waistcoats to harmonize with the bridesmaids' gowns, and Williegilt's hobby is spats. You can see him any day on the avenue displaying his feet in a new shade. Pearl says that it distracts attention from his head, but I protest against such an uncharitable view, for I must say he has been extremely square to me. The Duke, of course, cabled for his brother, Captain Lord Algernon Fitznit, to sail for this side at once, as he is to be best man, which seems to be almost like taking part in his own funeral, he being the heir to the dukedom. As the Captain cannot get here until the day before the wedding, Williegilt is arranging for the ushers, and while Ethel is going in for beauty, he is choosing for size, to make some sort of a showing against the soldier, who is six feet four. I think Williegilt with Stuyve Mint, Tommy Clime and myself will average around six feet two, and, as I told Pearl, when we get fixed up in our uniform we should make a rather imposing showing, so I find myself looking forward to the occasion with considerable interest. It will be a real adventure, no doubt, and I