"Oh, Rosie, you here? I'm delighted! I hope you have come to spend the
day?" exclaimed Lucilla, as on Monday she and Grace, on leaving the
schoolroom where they had been reciting to their father, passed out upon
the veranda in search of Evelyn and the older ladies and found Rose
Travilla seated with the others.
"Thank you; but suppose I have come intending to stay longer than that?
as long as mamma does, for instance?" laughed Rose, giving and receiving
an affectionate caress; for they had seen nothing of each other for
several days.
"The longer the better," was Lucilla's hearty rejoinder. "Do you not say
so too, Mamma Vi?" turning to her.
"Indeed I do," said Violet. "She will certainly make a most pleasant
addition to our party."
"I think you may as well accept the invitation, Rosie," her mother said
with a pleased smile; "and as I know you do not care to keep your errand
a secret from any of your friends here, we can call a family council and
talk the matter over."
"Yes, mamma; that sounds as though you accept Solomon's teaching that
'In the multitude of counsellors there is safety.' And since he was the
wisest of men we may surely consider ourselves safe in so doing. So, if
you like, you may tell Lu and Gracie on what errand I came."
"Tell it yourself, child," returned her mother with an amused look.
At that Rosie held up a letter to the view of Lucilla and Grace, saying,
with a smile and blush, "It is from Will Croly. He has grown tired of
waiting and begs to have matters hurried up somewhat: proposes that I
change my name next month, though the prescribed year of waiting would
thereby be shortened by two months or more."
"Oh, do let him have his way, then!" exclaimed Grace--"at least if he
will promise not to carry you off at once after the wedding--for there
could not be a lovelier month for it than beautiful June, the month of
roses."
"So I should say," chimed in Lucilla, then added hastily, "though I
think I'd make him wait till June of next year, rather than leave such a
mother as Grandma Elsie so soon."
At that Rosie glanced at her mother and her eyes filled with unbidden
tears.
"I can't bear to think of that," she said with a tremble in her voice,
"but perhaps I can coax Will to settle down somewhere in this
neighbourhood--bringing his father and mother along so that they won't
be lonely."
"A very nice plan, Rosie dear, if you can manage to carry it out,"
remarked Violet.
"And I have hope that Will, at least, will favour the plan; for he
seemed much pleased with this neighbourhood when he was here," said
Rosie, adding with a laugh and blush, "and I know my wishes carry great
weight with him."
"And we will hope that those of his parents may coincide with yours,"
added her mother gently; "for I am sure my Rosie would not wish to be
the cause of unhappiness to them."
"No, indeed, mamma; I can assure you it is my earnest desire to add to
their happiness; not to take from it. I am strongly in hopes, however,
that when they come to know you and all the rest of my dear relatives
here, they will esteem it a delight to live in your midst."
"And I don't believe they can help it," said Grace. "I am sure everybody
who knows Grandma Elsie, mamma, and papa--not to mention all the other
dear people--loves them and their pleasant society."
"In all of which I am sure you are quite right, Gracie," said Evelyn.
"I, too," said Lulu. "But now let us hear the plans for the wedding."
"They are yet to be made," laughed Rosie.
"You will want a grand one?" Lulu said in a tone of mingled assertion
and inquiry.
"Not so very," Rosie answered with a slight shake of her pretty head. "I
think only the relatives and most intimate friends. They alone will make
quite a party, you know. I'll want some bridesmaids. You'll be one, Lu,
won't you? Unless you fear the truth of the old saying, 'Twice a
bridesmaid never a bride.'"
"Pooh! what difference need that make?" returned Lulu; "since I don't
intend ever to marry."
"You don't?" exclaimed Rosie.
"No; for there is not another man in the world whom I could love half so
dearly as I love my father."
"Oh, well! that is only because you and the right one haven't happened
to meet yet."
"Yes, Lulu," said Grandma Elsie, "at your age I thought and felt just as
you do now, but some years later I found that another had gained the
first place in my heart."
"But my father is so much kinder and more lovable than ever yours was,"
was the answering thought in Lucilla's mind, but unwilling to hurt the
dear lady's feelings she refrained from expressing it, and only said
with a little laugh of incredulity, "I suppose I should not be too
certain, but I am entirely willing to run the risk of again acting as
bridesmaid."
"So that much is settled," returned Rosie in a tone of satisfaction. "I
have always counted upon Eva as another," she continued, "but----"
"Thank you, Rosie dear, but of course I cannot serve--under present
circumstances," returned Evelyn in a tone of gentle sadness.
No one spoke again for a moment; then Violet broke the silence by
asking, "How many do you think of having, Rosie?"
"Perhaps six," was the reply, in a musing tone, "at least including
flower girls and maid of honour. Gracie, you will be one of the
bridesmaids, will you not?"
"If papa does not object, as I hardly think he will."
"Maud and Sydney Dinsmore I think will serve," continued Rosie. "And
wouldn't it be a pretty idea to have Elsie Raymond and Uncle Horace's
Elsie, who is about the same size, as either bridesmaids or flower
girls?"
Everyone approved of that idea.
"Now, it will be in order, I suppose, to settle about the material and
colour of our dresses," remarked Lucilla.
"Perhaps it might be as well to first decide at what time of year they
are to be worn," suggested Mrs. Travilla in her gentle tones.
"Yes, mamma, but--you do not want to disappoint Will, do you? And June
is really the prettiest month in the year for a wedding, I think," said
Rose.
"None lovelier, daughter," her mother responded with a slight sigh, "but
October, my own wedding month, seems to me no less suitable."
"Why, yes, to be sure! if only Will could be satisfied to wait till
then."
"It will be hardly longer than the time he was given to understand he
must expect to wait," returned her mother pleasantly, "or than he ought
to think my Rose worth waiting for. But at all events, daughter, we must
consult with your grandpa before deciding. Have you had any talk with
him on the subject?"
"No, mamma; I preferred coming to you first, and am almost sure grandpa
will think it a matter for you to decide."
"Probably; yet I shall want his opinion; and besides he is your guardian
as well as your grandfather."
"Along with you, mamma; and I love him as both, he is so dear and kind."
"He is indeed," assented her mother. "He has told me more than once or
twice that my children are scarcely less dear to him than his own."
"Partly because our father was his dear friend as well as his
son-in-law," added Violet softly.
"Yes; they were bosom friends before I was born," her mother said with a
far-away look in her eyes.
"Then you must have been very much younger than he, Grandma Elsie,"
remarked Grace, half inquiringly.
"Sixteen years younger. I was in my ninth year when I saw him first, and
more than twice that age before I thought of him as anything but a dear,
kind friend--my father's friend and mine."
"And after that he seemed to you to grow younger, did he not, mamma?"
asked Rosie.
"Yes; when he joined us in Europe I had not seen him for two years, and
as regarded age he seemed to have been standing still while I grew up
to him; and in the daily and intimate intercourse of those months I
learned that his worth was far greater than that of any other man of my
acquaintance--excepting my father. Ah, there was never a better man, a
truer friend, a kinder, more devoted husband and father than he."
The sweet voice trembled with emotion; she paused for a moment, then
went on:
"He does not seem dead to me--he is not dead, but only gone before into
the immediate presence of the dear Master, where I hope one day to join
him for an eternity of bliss.
"''Tis there we'll meet
At Jesus' feet,
When we meet to part no more.'"
Again there was a brief silence, presently broken by the coming of the
captain and his two younger children. All three seemed pleased to find
Rosie there, greeted her affectionately, and then the captain remarked,
glancing from one to another:
"It strikes me that you are all looking about as grave as if assembled
to discuss the affairs of the nation. Can I have a voice in the
subject, whatever it is?"
"Yes, Brother Levis," replied Rosie, "I am trying to make arrangements
for--doing what you have done twice. And perhaps, since you have had so
much practice, you may be more capable than these other friends and
relatives of giving me advice."
"Something that I have done twice? What can that be?"
"Will Croly wants to help me," returned Rosie with a laugh and a blush.
"Ah! now I understand. Is the vexing question as to the colour and
material of the wedding gown?"
"Mamma thinks the first thing is to settle when the ceremony is to be
performed. She does not seem to sympathise in Will's haste to have it
over."
"Which is not at all surprising," returned the captain, glancing at his
two older daughters. "I can quite understand the feeling. But what is
the time proposed by Will?"
"June of this year."
"June seems a very suitable month, but if you were my daughter I should
say not June of this year--since you are both young enough to wait for
that of next or the year after."
"Ah, sir! that was not the way you talked when you wanted to rob mamma
of one of her daughters."
"No; but I was some years older than Mr. Croly is now, and your sister
Violet very womanly in her ways."
"And I am not? Ah, well! perhaps it is fortunate for me that the
decision rest with mamma and grandpa."
"So you, too, are in haste?" queried the captain, regarding her with a
look of amusement.
"Not at all," she returned, drawing herself up with an air of pretended
indignation. "Who would be in haste to leave such a home and mother as
mine? If I consulted only my own feelings I should be more than willing
to wait another year."
"Then why not decide to do so?" he asked with a quizzical look.
"Because I really have some regard for the wishes of my betrothed."
"And it makes it hard for you that the different ones you love cannot
agree so that you might please them all," remarked Grace, then
exclaimed, "Ah, here comes grandpa!" as at that moment the Ion carriage
turned in at the great gates.
Mr. Dinsmore seldom let a day pass without a more or less extended
interview with his eldest daughter, and had now come for a call at
Woodburn, bringing his wife with him.
When the usual greetings had been exchanged the subject of Rosie's
approaching marriage and the letter from Mr. Croly, urging that it take
place speedily, were introduced, and after some discussion it was
decided to let him have his own way. The day was not fixed upon any
farther than that it should be near the end of the month of June, and
with that Rosie seemed satisfied.
"Now, mamma," she said, "I think we may go on and discuss minor details,
such as dresses and ornaments for bride and attendants."
"Very well, daughter; you may give us your views on the subject. You
will want your own dress of some rich white material, I suppose?"
"Yes, mamma; of Bengaline silk, richly trimmed with lace; and I must
have a veil and orange blossoms; also a bouquet of bride roses and
smilax. Lu and Grace, you will want white silk dresses, won't you?"
"Yes," they replied. "And bouquets of white flowers," added Lucilla.
"Oh, papa, you will let me act as one of the bridesmaids, will you not?"
asked Grace, turning to him.
"I have no objection," he replied. "You may both serve, since Rosie
wishes it and I see you are pleased with the idea. As for the matter of
dress you may settle that for yourselves."
"Oh, thank you, sir!" both exclaimed joyously, Grace adding, "But won't
you please tell us, papa, just how much we may spend?"
"Any amount which your mamma and Grandma Elsie do not consider too
great," he replied in an indulgent tone. "However, I think I should not
hesitate to leave that matter to the judgment of my daughters
themselves; for I know that neither of you is inclined to be at all
extravagant."
"No, indeed," said Violet, "they are always very careful to make sure
that papa is able to afford them what they want."
"It would be strange if we weren't, Mamma Vi," said Lucilla with a happy
laugh, "for we know that papa loves us so dearly that he would go
without things himself any time rather than deny us anything desirable."
"And I expect to put him to the additional expense of dressing Elsie
handsomely for the occasion," laughed Rosie.
"Ah! is she also to be a bridesmaid?" asked the captain with a smiling
glance at his little girl, who was turning her bright eyes from one to
another with a surprised, pleased, yet puzzled look.
"Not just that," replied Rosie; then went on to explain her plan for
giving the two little Elsies a part in the ceremony.
"Should you like to do that, daughter?" asked the captain, taking the
hand of the little girl and drawing her to his side.
"I'm 'most afraid I would not know how to do it right, papa," she
answered with doubtful look and tone.
"You can take lessons beforehand," he said; "but you shall do just as
you please about it."
"And the question need not be decided at once," remarked Grandma Elsie.
"We will let the matter rest till we learn what your cousin Elsie
Dinsmore thinks about joining you in it."
"Yes," said Rosie, "and fortunately we do not need to settle anything
more to-day. Maud and Sydney must be consulted before we quite decide on
the colour and material of the bridesmaids' dresses."