Lizzie and Ellen were the daughters of a Major Melville, and the special friends of Miss Dunbar. They had come to Maudesley to act as her bridesmaids, according to that favourite promise which young ladies so often make to each other, and so very often break.
Laura did not appear to take much interest in the Miss Melvilles' hair. She was very meditative about something; but her meditations must have been of a pleasant nature, for there was a smile upon her face.
"Dora," she said, by-and-by, "do you know I've been thinking about something?"
"About what, dear?"
"Don't you know that old saying about one wedding making many?"
Dora Macmahon blushed.
"What of that, Laura dear?" she asked, very innocently.
"I've been thinking that perhaps another wedding may follow mine. Oh, Dora, I can't help saying it, I should be so happy if Arthur Lovell and you were to marry."
Miss Macmahon blushed a much deeper red than before.
"Oh, Laura," she said, "that's quite impossible."