"Then it is to Amarilly I am indebted for this call," he remarked

whimsically.

"It's about the Boarder," she continued, gaining ease at the softening

of his brown eyes. "You know he is to be married to Lily Rose, the girl

we saw at the organ recital where Bud made his debut."

"I inferred as much at the time. When are they to be married?"

"In June. Just as soon as the Annex can be added to the Jenkins's

upright. They are to build on two new rooms or rather the Boarder will

do so and he will furnish them for his new abiding-place. But because

she is 'delicate like' and overworked she is to become a Boarderess

instead of a housekeeper, and they will 'eat' with the Jenkins family,

thus increasing the prosperity of the latter. Amarilly says the Boarder

is 'awful gentle of Lily Rose and wants to take good care of her.'"

The expression that moved the frostiest of his flock came into the still

depths of his eyes and brought the wild rose to Colette's cheeks.

"They are going to make quite an affair of the wedding," she continued,

speaking hurriedly and a little breathlessly. "You and I and Mr.

Phillips are to be guests. There is to be a hack to take the bride and

groom to the train and a trip to Niagara Falls, because Lily Rose has

never been on the cars. They are to have salad and ice-cream and

sandwiches and coffee. Mr. Phillips is to act as florist and I shall

furnish the decorations and the bride's bouquet. I'd love to throw in a

bridal gown and veil, but Lily Rose, it seems, is proud and won't accept

them."

"I can find it quite in my heart to admire the reluctance of Lily Rose

to accept them."

"And so can I," replied Colette, the rare sweetness coming into her

eyes. "Underneath all my jests about this wedding, it is all very sweet

and touching to me--the Boarder's consideration for her, the

preparations for the wedding which appear so elaborate to them. And then

the wedding itself seems to mean so much to them. It's so different from

the weddings in our class which often mean so little."

"Colette, I know--I have always known in spite of your endeavor to have

me believe otherwise--anything really true and genuine appeals to you.

I--"

"But I haven't told you yet," she said, seized with an unaccountable

shyness, "what your part is to be. The Boarder, Lily Rose, and naturally

all the Jenkinses, want you to perform the ceremony. The Boarder, being

shy and retiring, forbore to ask you, and Amarilly for some reason

desired me to ask you if you would officiate, and I assured her you

would gladly do so."




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