The boys beat the handles of their knives on the table and rolled in their chairs with wide-open mouths as if they would burst; Reuben leaned back with a great pride and softening in his eyes, round which many hard lines had traced themselves of late; Caro's lips were parted and she seemed half enchanted, half bewildered by the other woman's careless merriment. Only Harry took no interest and looked dissatisfied--"Another wedding," he mumbled as he dribbled his food unnoticed over the cloth--"we're always having weddings in this house." It was strange that during this gay meal the strongest link was forged between Rose and Caro. Two natures more utterly unlike it would be hard to find--Caro's starved ignorance of love and aged familiarity with dustier matters made her the antithesis of Rose, a child in all things save those of the affections; but the two women's hearts met in their laughter. It was Rose who invited, Caro who responded, for Rose in spite of her years and inexperience had the one advantage which made her the older of the two. She was drawn to Caro partly from essential kindness, partly because she appreciated the luxury of pitying her--Caro responded with all the shy devotion of a warped nature going out towards one who enjoys that for which it unconsciously pines. Rose's beauty, jollity, and happiness made her a goddess to the less fortunate girl. After supper Rose turned towards her. "Will you come up and help me unpack?" Caro flushed with pleasure--a light had kindled in her grey life, and she found herself looking forward to days of basking. They went up together to the huge low-raftered bedroom, which struck horribly cold. "Ugh!" said Rose--"no fire!" "But it's a bedroom." "That's no reason for not having a fire. I shall freeze. Let's have the servant up to light one." "Oh, no. I'll light it; Mary's busy clearing the table. But I reckon as fäather wöan't be pleased." "I'll make him pleased. You leave father to me for the future." Caro fetched some wood and turf and laid the fire, to which Rose applied a match, feeling that by this she had done her share of the work. Then they began to unpack. There were two trunks full of clothes, and Rose complicated matters by refusing to take things out as they came but diving after various articles she particularly wanted. "I want my blue negleegy--I must show you my blue negleegy," she panted, up to her elbows in underlinen. "Oh, here it is! what do you think of it?" "It's silk!" said Caro in a hoarse whisper. "Of course it is--and the very best silk too. I'll put it on. Please undo my dress." Caro helped her off with her wedding-dress, and after having recovered her breath, which she lost completely at the sight of the lace on her chemise, she helped her arrange the "negleegy," and watched her open-mouthed as she posed in it before the fragment of looking-glass.