Mamma was crying just a little in the hall before they started. Auntie had on a different dress and a new bonnet. She held the children close, and dropped a tear on Lucy’s cheek. Poor, poor auntie! how she did hate to go! But Mr. Sanford hurried her into the carriage, which rolled away; and then mamma and papa went back to the dining-room, and went on eating chicken-salad.
Up to this time, during all the topsy-turvy proceedings, people had seemed very cold-hearted, or very forgetful; but now they began to take notice of Jimmy and Lucy. They said they were the sweetest groomsman and bridesmaid ever seen, as lovely as fairies; and gave them more kisses twice over than had been given Aunt Vi.
“I dare say this is the first wedding you ever saw, my love?” asked one of the ladies of Lucy.
Lucy turned uncertainly to her mother. “Mamma, did Jimmy and I ever mally anybody before?”
“No, dear.”
The children were eating ice-cream now, their hearts growing every moment happier and lighter. Still the chief event of the evening remained a dark mystery.
“What made Aunt Vi go off with Mr. Sanford?” asked the bewildered Jimmy.
Papa replied,—
“Because she loves him best of anybody in the world.”