“To dress! Why, Carolyn, what do you mean? Are you mad? Dress for what?” asked the old gentleman, anxious to know if perchance _her_ idea in any way resembled the plan adopted by himself, from Mrs. Clifton’s suggestion. “No, sir! I am not mad. ‘My pulse, as yours, doth temperately keep time,’” said the young lady, extending her hand to the bell-rope, and ringing a peal that presently brought her woman hurrying up stairs and into her presence. “Darky!” said she addressing her attendant, “go to Miss Zuleime, and to the Misses Cabell, and let them know that I have waited for them some time.” The old handmaid went out, and Carolyn turned to her father, and said, “My dearest father! when I am dressed I will send for you, and we will have a conversation, in which I will tell you my simple plan for getting through the evening. I have not quite matured it yet! Ah! here are the girls! Good evening for a couple of hours, father!” She opened the door for her father, who just escaped the young bridesmaids, who were coming in. He went out muttering— “I don’t know what she means. I suppose I can have confidence in her. At least I must for the _present_, and then, there is Mrs. Clifton’s plan.” He went into his own room and arrayed himself in festive garments for the occasion, and then went below stairs to groan inwardly over the numerous arrivals of guests, whose carriages thronged the lawn, and whose servants crowded the piazza, hall and entries. Presently a servant approached him, and said, respectfully, in a low voice— “Miss Clifton’s compliments, sir, and will see you in her own room.” The old gentleman hastened thither. He found his daughter ready dressed, and quite alone. Her bridesmaids had gone to make their own toilets. “Father!” she said, “I will not wear the willow for a recreant lover! I have determined that the festivities shall go on to-night. I will go down and lead off the first dance myself. You, my father, may explain, as you please, that the marriage is broken off, but that the music, dancing, and feasting are not arrested for that reason.” The old man had determined within himself what to speak but he answered— “My dear child, are you _equal_ to it?” “_Equal sir?_ Try me!” “Very well, my dear. Come! And I will say—what is proper upon the occasion.” In the meanwhile the splendid company assembled in the brilliantly lighted saloon, awaited with great impatience the entree of the bridal train. Made conspicuous in that gorgeous assembly by his black gown and bands, sat the clergyman who was to perform the ceremony.