"Don't worry. He loves Hugh you know. We're bound to feel damnably flat when the people go and we realise we're alone, but we'll get over it all right." "Please don't get over it entirely, Drusilla. I would like to know you were missing me. Oh, Marjorie, come in." Marjorie Sellars kissed Jessica perfunctorily. "Well, it was all very nice," she said. "I must say I liked all that gold much better than I expected to. But Mrs. Greene says she would have preferred a white wedding so I'm afraid you've put your foot in it, Jessica." "What nonsense," said Drusilla irritably. "It doesn't matter a scrap whether she approved or not." "I don't really mind at all." Jessica's voice was carefree. "She doesn't know much about clothes, so I don't mind and Lavinia who does know, liked it awfully." "Lavinia looked very nice, I thought," said Marjorie. "But your other sister-in-law, Helen, is very plain, isn't she?" Jessica and Drusilla gasped. "You're mad, Marjorie," said Jessica quietly. "You must surely see that she's definitely attractive?" "Not at all; I always think red hair is a little vulgar," said Marjorie briskly. "But surely it's time you were dressed, isn't it? When's your train?" "Not till 4.45, I think, and I'm just going to dress." There was a knock at the door and Lavinia came in. "I won't stay," she began, "I'm sure you don't want me, now, but I had to come and tell you how nicely it all went. You looked lovely, Jessica dear." Jessica grasped her hand. "How nice you are, Lavinia," she said. "Not a bit like a sister-in-law. Did you really like it?" "Of course I did, immensely; so did everyone." Another knock heralded the entrance of the five grown-up bridesmaids who filled the room with their shining frocks and huge bouquets. "Good Lord," said one, "she hasn't begun to dress yet. I say, you must hurry, Jessica; people are all lining up the stairs to see you come down, but you'll never get through the mob." "Well, I shan't hurry down, anyhow," said Jessica serenely, pulling off her frock. "And I won't be a minute, now, I haven't got to change my underclothes." "Here are your stockings and shoes, darling," said Drusilla, and Lavinia snatched a shoe out of her hand with a little exclamation of pleasure. "Oh, I do like these lizards. They're beautifully marked." "Here, do let me put it on," said Jessica. "And tell me, do you think it will matter if I stop on the way down to say goodbye to anyone I specially like. I do want to have a word with Daddy in the hall." "You ought to rush down," said another of the bridesmaids, "as if you were overwhelmed with maidenly confusion and escaping from the plaudits of the crowd." "I shan't," said Jessica in a muffled voice as she drew her frock over her head. "Well, I think it will look nice if she goes slowly," commented a third. "And it's a lovely going-away frock."