may have been indignation. She’s rather severe in her judgments. She may turn me right out of the house after it’s over. But if I can only get through the evening without shaming her, I won’t care. She’s been so very kind to me. I know this will be hard for her to bear. She stands very high in the community and is very proud. But she’ll be nice to you. And then there’ll be the bridesmaids and ushers. I’ll introduce the rest of them. You won’t be expected to know everybody. Here we are, and that’s the first car just coming into the drive now! Oh, we’re in plenty of time! Just leave the car right here. This is out of the way. Yes, lock it. Now, come; we’ll go up the fire escape, if you don’t mind, and then we won’t have to explain ourselves.”
Swiftly they stole up the iron stairs, Sherrill ahead, reaching down a guiding hand in the dark, giggling a little, nervously, as they stepped inside the window. Then she scuttled him down the back hall, opened a door to a small room that had been fixed up for the occasion as a dressing room, showed him how to find the front stairs, and directed him where to meet her as soon as he was ready.
Back through the two dim rooms where she had so recently come face-to-face with catastrophe, she hurried; only they were not in confusion now. The maids had been there straightening up. There were no traces of Cassie’s suitcase nor Linda’s street shoes. All was in immaculate order, the door thrown open to accommodate the expected crowds.
Sherrill slipped into her own room and fastened both doors.
Here, too, were signs of straightening. Her suitcase was closed, the closet doors and bureau drawers shut, everything put carefully away. But this room, of course, was not to be used for the guests. It was where the bride was expected to dress for going away.
Sherrill dashed to the dressing table and tried to obliterate as far as possible the traces of the past hour’s experience from her face. She didn’t care personally how she looked, but she did not want the assembled multitude to remark on her ghastly appearance. If she must go through this evening, she would do it gallantly.
She waited long enough to possess herself of a great ostrich feather fan that just matched the green of her frock. It would be wonderful to hide behind if need came, and give her a brave appearance. Then she put on the gorgeous necklace of emeralds, with three long pendants of emeralds and diamonds, a family heirloom that Aunt Pat had given her just that day. She must have something to replace the bridal pearls that were hers no longer. There were some rings and bracelets, too. She hadn’t had much time to get acquainted with them. She fingered them over and chose one luscious square-cut emerald for her finger. Her hands also should go bravely, not missing the diamond which she had worn for the past four months.
She slipped the magnificent ring on her finger, closed her eyes for a second, taking a deep breath, then hurried downstairs.
There were sounds of approach at the front of the house, the lively chatter of bridesmaids disembarking from their respective cars. Aunt Pat was just entering the front door leaning on Gemmie’s arm. Off in the far corner of the great reception room to the right, she could see Carter with his bride huddled under the bower of palms and flowers like a pair of frightened fowls between the clearing of two storms. The bride had her back toward the hall and was talking earnestly. Carter was half turned away, too, casting furtive frantic glances behind him, an ungroomly scowl upon his handsome brow. Poor Arla! Her hell had probably begun!
Sherrill unfurled her green fan and went bravely forward to meet Aunt Pat.
Chapter 4
Gemmie gave Sherrill a frightened scrutinizing glance, took the old lady’s wrap and scarf, and fled, casting another worried, puzzled look behind her.
Sherrill took her aunt’s arm. The old lady was smiling affably, but there was an inscrutable look about her. Sherrill couldn’t tell whether it held disapproval or not. It was a mask—she could see that.
“What’s her name? Who is she?” demanded the old lady out of the side of her mouth, without moving her lips or disturbing her smile. She was steering Sherrill straight toward the bridal bower. Sherrill had to speak