Then the curtain went up, and presently the great second act of the opera had begun, in which Elsa becomes the bride of Lohengrin.
CHAPTER X.—WESTMINSTER ABBEY.
“London,” announced Mary Price, “is just like a moody person. When she is sunny and warm, she is so charming one would never dream how black and ugly she could be.”
“She’s in a very good humor this morning,” exclaimed Billie, trying to bottle up her overflowing spirits until the others had finished their toilets, that they might all go forth together to see the sights.
It was the morning after the opera and their thoughts were still taken up with the great occasion. Nancy hummed the wedding chorus as she twisted her curls around her fingers, and smiled lovingly at her image in the glass.
“Are you quite ready, now, children?” said Miss Campbell suddenly; a question which caused the Motor Maids to smile secretly, since Miss Helen herself had been keeping them all waiting some quarter of an hour, while she arranged her hat and veil, drew on her immaculate pearl-gray gloves and pinned a jabot of fine Irish lace at her neck.
“What are we to see first, Billie, dear? Have you arranged a schedule for the day? You are to be guide, remember.”
“I had planned Westminster Abbey,” said Billie, “if that’s agreeable to all concerned.”
It was decidedly a delightful thing to do, and two at least of the five tourists were thrilled at the notion. All her life Mary had longed to see the great cathedral, and Elinor, also, was moved with a deep pleasure at the thought. Nancy, gay butterfly that she was, was not so overcome by the solemnity of the visit.
“Has each person some special thing that she wants to see most? If so, let her wishes be known before we get there, so plans may be made accordingly,” announced Billie.