She stood a moment at the door, then closed it softly and went in to say good-night to Farley. He took the hand on which she had half-drawn her glove and held it while his eyes slowly surveyed her.
“I didn’t know whether you’d wear a hat to an evening wedding. I never know about those things.”
“Oh, this is such a foolish little thing, papa; you’d hardly call it a hat,” she laughed.
“Well, don’t let one of those army officers pick you up and carry you off. I want to hold on to you a little longer.”
As she bent to kiss him tears sprang to her eyes. Face to face with it, there was nothing heroic, nothing romantic in abandoning the kindest friend she was ever likely to know, and in a fashion so shamelessly abrupt and cruel.
“Good-night, papa!” she cried bravely and tripped downstairs, humming to keep up her courage.
She absently took her latch-key from a bowl on the hall table and did not remember until she had thrust it into her glove as she went down the steps that she would have no use for it. It was the finest of autumn nights and many were walking to the church; there was a flutter of white raiment, and a festal gayety marked the street. She waited for those immediately in sight to pass before leaving the yard and then walked toward the church.
She eluded an officer resplendent in military dress who started toward her and stole into the nearest seat. The subdued happiness that seemed to thrill the atmosphere, the organist’s preludings, the air of expectancy intensified her sense of detachment and remoteness.
The notes of the “Lohengrin” march roused her from her reverie and she craned her neck for a first sight of the attendants and the bride.
Just before the benediction she left, and was soon in the side street where Billy was to leave his car. She had expected him to be in readiness, but he had evidently waited for the end of the ceremony—which seemed absurd when they were so soon to have a wedding of their own! It was inconsiderate of him to keep her waiting. The street began to fill and she loitered, ill at ease, while the organ trumpeted joyfully.