"Well, really," laughed Lucilla, "it was for my own pleasure quite as much as for yours." And tears came into the eyes gazing with sisterly affection into those of Max. "I want to entertain you while I can," she added, "for there is no knowing when Uncle Sam may be ordering you quite out of reach."
"Oh, don't let us talk of that!" exclaimed Eva. "Let us banish it from our thoughts for the present."
"That is good advice," said Max, his voice a trifle husky; "it's what I'm trying to do for the present; for however much a man may love the service—a little wife such as mine must be far nearer and dearer."
"Yes," said Chester; "if you had only chosen the law, we might now be partners in my office, as well as in this house."
"And I perhaps might ruin the business by my stupidity," returned Max, with playful look and tone.
"Hark! there's the tea-bell," said Lucilla. "I invite you all out to the dining-room."
After a pleasant social half hour spent at the tea-table, each couple retired to their own apartments to dress for the evening entertainment at Woodburn.
"This is one of the occasions for the wearing of the wedding-gown, is it not?" Max said inquiringly to Evelyn, as they passed into her dressing-room.
"Yes," she said lightly. "You will not mind seeing me in it for the second time, will you?"