"I'm not at all like that," Jessica spoke with solemn emphasis. "I get the most extraordinary thrills when Hugh kisses me. He musses all my clothes and untidies my hair, and my face gets all blotched and red, and I simply love it. In fact I think I'm very passionate, and it's a good thing if I am, because Hugh says he is." "God knows how he manages it with those parents, but I should think he may be all the same, he's so good-looking." Drusilla yawned. "I think I'd better go now," she said, "you look sleepy, and I am too, and it's still nearly two hours till breakfast." "Oh don't go yet, stay one more minute," Jessica begged, "I do like talking to you. Drusilla; I feel most awfully glad I'm a virgin. Isn't it lucky? It would be terrible to have a past, don't you think, so disappointing somehow." "You're being incredibly Victorian; all worked up and excited and old-fashioned, and besides, my girl, you have a past. What about that awful boy Richardson when you were seventeen?" Jessica's face and neck crimsoned slowly. "Don't tease me about that," she said, "I can hardly bear to think of it, it was so undignified and vulgar, and when Mother found us kissing in the garage it was absolute Hell. I can hardly believe it's two years since it happened; it feels like yesterday." "I'm sorry I teased you then," said Drusilla smiling, "honestly I thought you'd have forgotten all about it by now. Anyhow it's not important in the least I promise you." She stood up and looking down at Jessica added "Really you're not to fuss about it now; Hugh is charming, and you'll be married to him in a minute and live happily ever after." "I know I will," said Jessica lazily, and as Drusilla shut the door she turned over and smoothed her pillow happily conscious that the next morning Hugh's dark head would be lying on it, beside her. Darling Hugh, she thought drowsily, and fell asleep regardless of the sunlight on her face. II The sound of her mother's voice woke her for the second time. "My dear child, do you know it's half past ten? I really thought I'd better wake you to have some breakfast." She was followed by a maid carrying a tray, and as Jessica pushed back her hair, rubbed her eyes and sat up, Mrs. Deane took the tray, put it on a table and sat down on the bed. She kissed Jessica and smiled. "You know I feel quite sentimental," she said, "and a little excited too. After all, here you are, my youngest daughter on her wedding day, a most thrilling event for any mother." "You're every bit as bad as I am, Mother. Do you know when I was awake before, I felt so silly that I couldn't stop giggling! Do you know the feeling?" "Of course I do, but oh, my dear"--Mrs. Deane caught her breath--"I'm going to miss you terribly. The house will be as quiet as a tomb without you. When I sit in the front pew this afternoon watching you and your father come up the aisle, I shall shed tears into my bouquet."