Before the finishing touches to her toilet were given, there was a tumult at the door. She could hear new voices. The guests were arriving. She heard laughter and merry greetings; and still they poured in, as if they had come in a procession. Then there was a hush, followed by the sound of a carriage, the letting down of steps, and a universal murmur. Jim had arrived, with Mr. and Mrs. Balfour and the boys. They had had great difficulty in getting him into the one hackney coach which the village possessed, on account of his wish to ride with the driver, "a feller as he knowed;" but he was overruled by Mrs. Balfour, who, on alighting, took his arm. He came up the garden walk, smiling in the faces and eyes of those gathered around the door and clustered at the windows. In his wedding dress, he was the best figure in the crowd, and many were the exclamations of feminine admiration. On entering the door, he looked about him, saw the well-dressed and expectant company, the dainty baskets of flowers, the bountifully loaded table in the little dining-room, all the preparations for his day of happiness, but he saw nowhere the person who gave to him the significance of the occasion. Mr. Snow greeted him cordially, and introduced him to those who stood near. "Well, parson, where's the little woman?" he said, at last, in a voice so loud that all heard the startling question. Miss Butterworth heard him, and laughed. "Just hear him!" she exclaimed to the busy girl, whose work was now hurrying to a close. "If he doesn't astonish them before he gets through, I shall be mistaken. I do think it's the most ridiculous thing. Now isn't it! The idea!" Miss Snow, in the general character of outside manager and future companion of the bride, hurried to Jim's side at once, and said: "Oh, Mr. Fenton!" "Jest call me Jim." "No, no, I won't. Now, Mr. Fenton, really! you can't see her until she is ready!" "Oh can't I!" and Jim smiled. Miss Snow had the impression, prevalent among women, that a bridegroom has no rights so long as they can keep him out of them, and that it is their privilege to fight him up to the last moment. "Now, really, Mr. Fenton, you _must_ be patient," she said, in a whisper. "She is quite delicate this morning, and she's going to look so pretty that you'll hardly know her." "Well," said Jim, "if you've got a ticket into the place whar she's stoppin', tell her that kingdom-come is here an' waitin'." A ripple of laughter went around the circle, and Jim, finding the room getting a little close, beckoned Mr. Snow out of the doors. Taking him aside and removing his hat, he said: "Parson, do you see my har?" "I do," responded the minister, good-naturedly. "That riz last night," said Jim, solemnly. "Is it possible?" and Mr. Snow looked at the intractable pile with genuine concern.