"Now, now, little woman, you must make allowances for a young girl's nervousness." "I know, Ben, but it worries me so. It's not natural for her to have crying spells like that one yesterday." "Nonsense! I'm not so sure you weren't a red-eyed bride." "My nervousness wasn't anything like hers. She'll make herself sick." "You mean you will." "Have you heard her moving about her room yet?" "No." "Shall I knock?" "No, Carrie; now let the child alone this morning." "I never knew her to stay in bed so long. It's after eleven, and the hair dresser coming at twelve. It will seem funny, won't it, Ben, her--little room empty to-night." "Now, now, no waterworks. What if she was moving away to another city instead of just settling down across the street? You worked this thing your way, and even now you don't feel satisfied." "I do feel satisfied, Ben, but I want her to be, too." "Now, little woman, mark my word, Lilly may feel that she is doing this thing in more or less of a spirit of sacrifice to our pleasure, but inside of a week she'll be as busy and happy a little housekeeper as her mother." "Is that her calling?" "Yes. Go to her, Carrie." Out in the little upper square of hallway Lilly appeared suddenly; her hair still down in the beautiful way she let it toss about her in sleep, and her body boldly outlined in a Japanese kimono she held tightly about her. "Mamma, will you and papa please come to my room? I want to talk to you." "Your father is shaving, Lilly. Can't you talk to us out here? How is our girl on her wedding day? Frightened? You're me all over again. Ask your father if I wasn't as pale as you are." She kissed her daughter on lips that were cold, brushing back the shower of hair from her shoulders. "You ought to see the presents, Lilly, that just--" "Mamma--papa--you must listen." "Yes, Lilly." "Please, won't you let me off? Please!" Her father regarded her from behind the white mud of lather, his eyes darkening up. "Now, now, sweetheart," he said, using one of his rarest words of endearment, "this won't do at all." "But I can't, papa. I just can't. I know it's terrible, this last minute, but--but--I tell you--I can't." "My God, Ben!" "Can't what, Lilly?" "Can't! I never had such a funny--a terrible feeling. I can't explain it, only let me off. Please! It's not too late. Lots of girls have done it--found out at the last minute they couldn't--" "My God! What are we to do, Ben? Ben!" "Carrie, if only you will hold your horses I'll handle this." He mopped off his face hurriedly, sliding into a dressing gown. "Come now, Lilly, into the front room. Sit down." She moved after him with the rather groping look of the blind. "Now what is this nonsense, Lilly, you've been hinting these last few days?"