"Nurse," said he, "Miss Pomeroy is to be married at once. You must see--that she has every thing prepared--suitably--and of the very best."
The ayah stood speechless with amazement. This feeling was increased when Zillah said, in a cold monotone:
"Don't look surprised, nurse. It's quite true. I am to be married within a day or two."
Her master's absurdities the ayah could account for on the ground of delirium; but was "Little Missy" mad too? Perhaps sorrow had turned her brain, she thought. At any rate, it would be best to humor them.
"Missy had a white silk down from London last week, Sir."
"Not satin? A wedding-dress should be of satin," said the General.
"It does not matter, so that it is all white," said the nurse, with decision.
"Doesn't it? Very well," said the General. "But she must have a veil, nurse, and plenty of jewels. She must look like my darling. You remember, nurse, how she looked."
"Indeed I do, sahib, and you may leave all to me. I will see that Missy is as fine and grand as any of them."
The ayah began already to feel excited, and to fall in with this wild proposal. The very mention of dress had excited her Indian love of finery.