and of her mother. But as to that she had been given
no say; Sir Jacques and Mr. and Mrs. Robey had
announced as a matter of course that they would be
present, and so she had assented to her mother's suggestion
that Miss Forsyth should be asked. If Mr.
and Mrs. Robey and Sir Jacques were to be there,
then she did not mind Miss Forsyth, her kind old
friend, being there too.

Anna had protested with tearful vehemence against
the blue serge skirt and the pretty blouse -- nay, more,
she had already taken the white gown she intended
that her beloved nursling should wear, out of the bag
which she, Anna, had made for it last year. It was
a very charming frock, a fine exquisitely embroidered
India muslin, the only really beautiful day-dress Rose
had ever had in her young life. And oddly enough
it had been a present from Miss Forsyth.

Miss Forsyth -- it was nearly eighteen months ago --
had invited Rose to come up to London with her
for a day's shopping, and then she had suddenly presented
her young friend with this attractive, and yes,
expensive gown. There had been a blue sash, but
this had now been taken off by Anna, and a bluey-white
satin band substituted. As to that Rose now
rebelled. "If I _am_ to wear this dress today, I should
like the blue sash put back," she said quickly. "Blue
is supposed to bring luck to brides, Anna."

What had really turned the scale in Rose's mind
had been Anna's tears, and the fact that Miss Forsyth
would be pleased to see her married in that gown.

But over the lace veil there had been something like
a tug of war. And this time it was Mrs. Otway who
had won the day. "If you wear that muslin dress,

[[263]]

p262 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p263w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p264

v?