While they were there, just beginning a game of blindfold, the bride came out in her travelling-dress, with her young husband, to say good by. Mary fell to crying, the twins had tears in their eyes, and it would have been a very sober time, if Rachel had not called out, in her brisk way,—
"All step round to the sides of the room, and let me have the middle!"
People always minded Rachel; so she had the floor at once, though no one could think what she meant to do, when she brought along a big brass kettle, the very one in which Patty had dipped those unfortunate candles, and set it upon a board, in the middle of the floor.
"Now, my friends," said she, courtesying, "you all know I am the oldest daughter, and it isn't fair that my younger sister should be married before I am; do you think it is?"
"No, no; not at all," said uncle Joshua's four boys, laughing.
"And I don't see," added Rachel, with another courtesy,—"I don't see how Mr. Starbird happened to make such a strange mistake as to choose Dorcas instead of me!"
"I beg your pardon," said Mr. Starbird, bowing very low, "I never'll do so again."
"But since the deed is done," said Rachel, "and cannot be undone, I shall be obliged to dance in the brass kettle. That's what ladies do whose younger sisters are married first."
Then, with quite a sober face, she mounted a wooden cricket, stepped into the kettle, and began to dance.
There was not room to take many steps; but she balanced herself very gracefully, and sung, keeping time with her feet.