“I’d have liked to look longer,” said Gracie, “but I s’pose mamma would have been tired standing so still. Besides, I guess it’s bedtime; I feel as if it must be,” pulling out the dainty little watch which was papa’s Christmas gift.
“Yes, it is past my bedtime. But I’m not much tired, and I hope papa will let me stay up a little longer.”
“Oh, see!” cried Lora, as a door opened, “here they all come, the brides still in their wedding dresses. They’re going to wear them for the rest of the evening, I suppose. I like that.”
But nobody listened to what she was saying; they had all risen to their feet and were crowding around the brides and bridegrooms with merry congratulations and good wishes.
Lulu and Grace presently made their way to their father’s side. He was laughing and talking with some of the other grown people, but when he felt the small hands clasping his, he glanced smilingly down at his darlings, then stooped and kissed them both.
“I fear my feeble little Gracie is very much fatigued by this time,” he said. “Do you want papa to carry you up to bed now, pet?”
“I’m not so very tired, papa, and if you’re willing, I’d like ever so much to stay up a wee bit longer,” she returned, coaxingly. “It’s so nice to be at your wedding, you know; it seems as if it’s your wedding and mamma’s.”
“Does it?” he laughed. “I wish I could have had my children at the real one. Yes, you may stay up a little longer and have some ice cream. We are going out to the dining-room now for refreshments.”
CHAPTER XII.
When Edward and Zoe had retired to their own apartment on the breaking up of the company that evening, he led her up to a pier glass asking, “What do you think of the picture you see there, my dear?”