The evening passed so pleasantly that it was late when the party broke up.
Stuart, Palma, Ran and Judy returned to their flat.
Stuart had not been able to find a room for Judy. All the rooms were in suites. One more night he had to sleep as well as he could on the short sofa, while Judy shared Palma’s bed.
But the next day, toward the afternoon, Mrs. Walling came for Judy, to take her to the Walling home to make preparations for her marriage on Saturday.
“The Moseleys,” she said, “have secured a fine old manor house at Fort Washington, about fifteen minutes by rail from New York. It is completely furnished and in perfect readiness for occupation. The family are in Europe, and the house has been left in the care of an agent, who has just kept it in perfect order. They leave us to-night; so you see we have room for a score of young girls, if we could find them.”
Palma made no objection to the departure of Judy, but kissed her an affectionate good-by; and Mrs. Walling took the girl and the girl’s little trunk away with her in the luxurious family carriage.
And Ran forsook the Stuarts and spent that evening with the Wallings, returning quite late to his suite of rooms on their flat. But, under the circumstances, his cousins forgave him.
CHAPTER X
A WEDDING AND OTHER INCIDENTS
Stuart and Palma were both very glad and very grateful that Mrs. Walling had undertaken all the responsibilities of their cousin’s wedding. They knew that her means were ample, and that Walling & Walling were advancing, and would continue to advance, any sum that Randolph or Judith might require for their personal preparations. They knew also that Mrs. Walling was sincerely delighted with the idea of the wedding celebration at her own house; whereas, had it been settled to come off at the Stuarts’ apartments, Stuart, from impecuniosity, and Palma, from inexperience, would have been very much embarrassed.
Mrs. Walling was in her element selecting a proper trousseau and outfit for Judy.