"And you will come," Flora said, blushing all over her pretty face. "It is to be in a month. You will be sure to come, cousin Hester? though I am afraid you will think it noisy and a great bustle, for there are to be a great many--six bridesmaids. Do you think it is wrong to be gay at such a time?--but indeed I could not help it, cousin Hester?" "And, indeed, I do not think it wrong, cousin Flora," said I, smiling at her seriousness; "and I only wish I could do something to show how very right I think it to do honor to a bride. Is there nothing you would like yourself that Mamma is indifferent about? Not anything at all that I could do for you, Flora?" By dint of close questioning, it turned out that there were two or three things which Flora had set her heart upon, and which Mamma was not remarkably favorable to; and the result of our conference was, that I was seized with a strong desire to drive to Cambridge immediately with my young guest, and make some certain purchases. There was time enough yet to do it, and Flora was in great delight at the proposal, which gave me also no small degree of pleasure. After the usual fears that it was troubling me, Flora ran up stairs very willingly to get ready, and I, with a little tremor, knocked softly at the door of the library. My husband was seated as usual at his table--busy, or seeming so. When I entered he looked up, as he always did now when I went to him, with a startled look of expectation. I told him we were going to Cambridge, but hoped to be back in time for dinner. It always confused and disturbed me, this look of his. "And am I to go with you, Hester?" he said, rising with some alacrity. "Oh, no!" I said, confused and hesitating, "I did not mean to trouble you. I--of course, if you pleased, we would be very glad; but I only wanted to tell you--I did not think----" "Very well," he said, sitting down, and interrupting my tremulous explanation. "I thank you for letting me know. Perhaps Mrs. Templeton had better delay dinner to give you full time. I hope you will have a pleasant drive. Ah, there is the carriage--you should lose no time, Hester." Thus dismissed, I hastened away--always, alas!--always bringing with me when I left him a sore heart. Would he have been pleased to go?--should I have asked him? How I tormented myself with these questions. If we had been living in full mutual love and confidence, I would have said to him, gaily--"We do not want you; this is quite a confidential woman's expedition--a thing with which you have nothing to do;" but now I went away pondering whether I should not spoil our little piece of impromptu business, and making the drive and the afternoon alike miserable by returning once more, and entreating him to go.