“True! true! my noble girl! There spoke your mother’s daughter! Yet—” suddenly cried the old gentleman, as by a quick recollection and revulsion of feeling, “what a devil of a kettle of fish this is, my dear! Blame the fellow, what are we to do? Deuce take the man—what are we to say to the people down stairs? Say, Carolyn! Woman’s wit is quick! Can you think of anything?”
Carolyn stood in proud and bitter thought for some minutes, and then she smiled, with a scornful smile, and said—
“Do nothing, sir! Let all go on as was planned! Let the band of music take its place in the saloon! Let the wedding guests come, and be received! And then leave all the rest to me! And now, my dear father, pray excuse me, as it is time to dress.”
“To dress! Why, Carolyn, what do you mean? Are you mad? Dress for what?” asked the old gentleman, anxious to know if perchance her idea in any way resembled the plan adopted by himself, from Mrs. Clifton’s suggestion.
“No, sir! I am not mad. ‘My pulse, as yours, doth temperately keep time,’” said the young lady, extending her hand to the bell-rope, and ringing a peal that presently brought her woman hurrying up stairs and into her presence.
“Darky!” said she addressing her attendant, “go to Miss Zuleime, and to the Misses Cabell, and let them know that I have waited for them some time.” The old handmaid went out, and Carolyn turned to her father, and said, “My dearest father! when I am dressed I will send for you, and we will have a conversation, in which I will tell you my simple plan for getting through the evening. I have not quite matured it yet! Ah! here are the girls! Good evening for a couple of hours, father!”
She opened the door for her father, who just escaped the young bridesmaids, who were coming in.
He went out muttering—
“I don’t know what she means. I suppose I can have confidence in her. At least I must for the present, and then, there is Mrs. Clifton’s plan.” He went into his own room and arrayed himself in festive garments for the occasion, and then went below stairs to groan inwardly over the numerous arrivals of guests, whose carriages thronged the lawn, and whose servants crowded the piazza, hall and entries. Presently a servant approached him, and said, respectfully, in a low voice—
“Miss Clifton’s compliments, sir, and will see you in her own room.”