These two weeks before her marriage were magic days for the little
lilac lady. She found herself in a new atmosphere. From being of no
consequence at all to anybody, she had suddenly become the most
important member of the family, and she almost lost a sense of her own
identity when Susan consulted her as to the number of eggs to be put
into the wedding cake.
Susan, indeed, was deeply impressed. For was not Arabella going to
marry a rich man, and the doctor's bosom friend, at that? To be sure,
she could not help wishing he wouldn't spend so much of his time with
that queer old John McIntyre, but there was no denying his wealth, and
the way he did spend money was a caution. On the whole, he was quite a
wonderful match for Arabella, much better than he had been ten years
ago, and almost all Mrs. Winters could have wished for Bella herself.
So the wedding must be in keeping with his position, and the
preparations for it were put forward on a grand scale.
And through all the bustle and activity Miss Arabella moved in a happy
daze, conscious of one thing only, that Martin had come back, and,
under the love and appreciation, growing more beautiful every day. The
rose tints crept into her cheeks, and her eyes shone like the blue of
the June skies. Elsie Cameron took advantage of Susan's relaxation,
and puffed out the little bride-elect's pretty hair, and decked her
with ribbons and lace, until Martin declared she wasn't a day older
than when he went away, and twice as pretty.