"Why, Doctor Thryng, you look better than when you were in Farington! Doesn't he, James? Aunt Sally gave me to understand you were nearly dead." David laughed happily. "I was, but I am very much alive now. I am to be married, Mrs. Towers; our wedding is to be quite _comme il faut_. It is to be at high noon, and the ceremony performed by a bishop." "James!" Betty dropped into a chair and looked helplessly at her husband. "You haven't your vestments here!" "I have all I need, dear. You know, Doctor, from Mr. Belew's telegram we were led to expect--" "A death instead of a wedding?" David finished. Betty turned to him. "Why didn't you tell us when you were down? You never gave the slightest hint of your state of mind, and there I was with my heart aching for Cassandra, when you--you stood ready to save her. I'm so glad for Cassandra; I could hug you, Doctor Thryng." Suddenly she turned on her husband. "James! Have you thought of everything--all the consequences? What will his mother--and the family over in England say?" James threw up his hand and laughed. "Don't laugh, James. Have you thought this all out, Doctor? Are you sure you can make them understand over there? Won't they think this awfully irregular? Will they ever be reconciled? I know how they are. My father was English." "They never need be reconciled. It's our affair, and there's nothing to call me back there to live. What I do, or whom I make my wife, is nothing to them. I may visit my mother, of course, but for the rest, they gave me up years ago, when I had no use for the life they mapped out for me. I have nothing to inherit there. It would go to my older brother, anyway. I may follow my own inclination--thank God! And as for it's being irregular--on the contrary--we are distinguished enough to have a bishop perform the ceremony. That will be considered a great thing at home--when they do come to hear of it." "But it is very sudden, Doctor; I suppose that's why I said irregular." Betty Towers paused a moment with a little frown, then laughed outright. "Does Cassandra know she is to be married to-day?" "She learned the fact yesterday--incidentally--bless her! and her only objection was a most feminine one. She had no proper dress. She said she was wearing her best when she found me and--but--I told her the trousseau was to come later." Betty rose with impulsive importance. "Well, James, we've so little time, I must go and help her prepare. And you'll rest now, won't you, Doctor? You stay up here with him, James, and I'll find some way of sending your things up." "Thar's Hoyle; he kin he'p a heap. He kin ride the mule an' tote anything ye like; and Marthy, I reckon ye kin git her up here on my horse--hit's thar at her place," said Sally, who had been standing in the doorway, keenly interested.