As the slippers struck the ground, quick as a cat, M'haley darted
forward to grab them. "Them slippahs is mates!" she announced,
gleefully, "and I'm goin' to tote 'em home for we-all's wedding. I
kain't squeeze into 'em myself, but Ca'line Allison suah kin."
Once more, and for the last time, Eugenia leaned out of the carriage to
look back at the dear faces she was leaving. But there was no sadness in
the farewell. Her prince was beside her, and the Gold of Ophir
rose-garden lay ahead.
CHAPTER XIII.
DREAMS AND WARNINGS
"It's all ovah now!" exclaimed Lloyd, stifling a yawn and looking around
the deserted drawing-room, where the candles burned low in their
sconces, and the faded roses were dropping their petals on the floor.
Mr. Forbes and Doctor Tremont had just driven away to catch the midnight
express for New York, and the last guest but Rob had departed.
"It's all over with that gown of yours, too, isn't it?" asked Phil,
glancing at the airy pink skirt, down whose entire front breadth ran a
wide, zigzag rent. "It's too bad, for it's the most becoming one I've
seen you wear yet. I'm sorry it must be retired from public life so
early in its career."
Lloyd drew the edges of the largest holes together. "Yes, it's ruined
beyond all hope, for I stepped cleah through it when I tripped on the
stairs, and it pulled apart in at least a dozen places, just as a thin
veil would. But you'll see it again, and on anothah maid of honah.
M'haley nevah waited to see if I was hurt, but pounced on it and began
to beg for it befoah I got my breath again. She said she could fix it
good enough for her to weah to her mammy's wedding. She would 'turn it
hine side befo'' and tie her big blue sash ovah it. Imagine! She'll be
heah at the break of day to get it."
"Do you know it is almost that time now?" asked Betty, coming in from
the dining-room with seven little heart-shaped boxes. "Here's our cake,
and godmother says we'd better take it and go to dreaming on it soon, or
the sun will be up before we get started."
"Now remembah," warned Lloyd, as Rob slipped his box into his pocket and
began looking around for his hat, "we have all promised to tell our
dreams to each othah in the mawning. We'll wait for you, so come ovah
early. Come to breakfast."
"Thanks. I'll be on hand all right. I'll probably have to wake the rest
of you."
"Don't you do it!" exclaimed Phil. "I'll warn you now, if you're waking,
_don't_ call me early, mother, dear. If you do, to-morrow won't be the
happiest day of all _your_ glad New Year. I'll promise you that. How
about you, Bradford?"
"Oh, I'm thinking of sitting up all night," he answered, laughing, "to
escape having any dreams. Miss Mary assures me they will come true, and
one might have a nightmare after such a spread as that wedding-supper. I
can hardly afford to take such risks."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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