"Yes; to Mr. Wyndham."
Laura sat like one transfixed, digesting the news. Somehow, she was not so much surprised, but the suddenness of the intelligence stunned her.
Olive Henderson laughed outright as she looked at her.
"Well, Miss Blair," she said, "if I had told you I had committed a murder, and was going to be hanged for it, you could hardly look more aghast! Pray, is there anything so very terrible in my marrying Mr. Wyndham?"
"It's not that," said Laura, recovering herself slowly, "but the news came so suddenly, so unexpectedly, that——"
"Unexpectedly! Is it possible, Laura, Speckport has not decided before now I should marry Mr. Wyndham?"
"Speckport doesn't know what to think," said Laura; "it decided upon your marriage with Captain Cavendish; it said that you were engaged, and that all was settled, when, lo! this Mr. Wyndham appears, and presto! all is changed. Captain Cavendish flies out of the country, and Mr. Wyndham becomes the hero of the story. Speckport never was so pleased before; you are as erratic as a comet, Miss Henderson, and it is as useless trying to account for your vagaries."
"I am glad Speckport has found that out. Well, Laura, you will be bridemaid?"
"Of course. Oh how strange it all seems! When is it to come off?"
"What, the wedding? Oh, near the end of next month, I believe. Mr. Wyndham, like any other ardent lover, objects to long engagements."