"Now give me my hat," said Jessica, just as two quiet knocks sounded on the door. Her face flamed. "There's Hugh," she said. "All go away now; I'll be down in a minute. Good bye, my dears, and thank you all for being my bridesmaids." "Good-bye and good luck, Jessica," said Marjorie, crisply, following the shining flock. "Good-bye, Jessica, dear, have a lovely honeymoon," said Lavinia, and kissed Hugh as he stood embarrassed in the doorway. "Don't go, Drusilla; I haven't said good-bye to you." Jessica's mouth trembled, but as Hugh came over to her, she smiled at him and forgot the pain of parting with Drusilla. "I'm ready," she said. "Shall we go now, Hugh? Take my hand and let's go slowly. I hate the way they push and run sometimes." Drusilla went in front to clear a passage, and Hugh and Jessica followed slowly down, saying: "Good-bye, Good-bye--Thank you--It's been lovely--Good-bye--Yes, we've really enjoyed it ourselves--Good-bye and thank you." Mr. and Mrs. Rodney Greene were standing on the first landing. Jessica stopped to kiss them. "Good-bye," she said. "I'll keep Hugh happy," and went on downstairs. When she met Mrs. Deane a little lower down the pause was longer. "Is Daddy at the front door?" she asked. "Yes, darling, he's waiting for you." "Good-bye, Mother; write to me lots and don't be depressed." "Of course, I won't, dear child. Good-bye, Hugh; take care of her." Another kiss and they started down again. The hall was crowded but Drusilla forged steadily on in front and suddenly Jessica saw her father on the top step. Dropping Hugh's hand she ran to him and clung round his neck. "I hate leaving you. I wish you could come too," she whispered. "Keep on thinking of me all the time, Daddy." "Be happy," said Mr. Deane. "Have a happy time and don't bother about us. We'll miss you, but we'll manage all right. Where's Hugh got to?" "I'm here, sir," Hugh answered happily, elbowing his friends to one side and gaining a foothold on the top step. "Good-bye, and thank you. I'll take care of Jessica." "Good-bye, Hugh; you're all right. And now good-bye, my darling girl." Mr. Deane helped her into the car, and Hugh jumped in beside her, but just before they started Jessica leaned out of the window and kissed her father again. "I do love you, Daddy," she said. "And I am so happy." "Splendid," said Mr. Deane, stoutly. "Splendid. Good luck to you both." He stood on the kerb as the car moved away, the steps behind him crowded with waving guests, and then turned and went smiling into the house, answering questions, laughing and joking. But he was conscious of a keen and biting pain when he remembered that the first nineteen years of Jessica's life had gone like a leaf before the wind, and at their next meeting she would be no longer Jessica, daughter of Anthony Deane, but Jessica, wife of Hugh Beckett Greene. ET CETERA ET CETERA I