Merivale if any of her visitors had
heard of Lady Trebleston's name, in connection with the bridal array,
before she had had the opportunity and exquisite pleasure of imparting
it. Still, she had many such disappointments, for the news had spread
like wild-fire at its first mention, and floated through the town on
every lip, regardless of discrimination.
The wedding-presents were marvels of beauty and wealth, and such an
array as there was. Alice contemplated them with many a sweeping
glance of open admiration, which was generally followed by the dancing
of a light pirouette around the room, and an exulting cry of "Who
wouldn't get married after that, eh, Miss Hampden?"
As this was not the time for remonstration of any sort, on my part, I
remained utterly passive throughout, watching the proceedings in their
origin and progress with a curious and puzzling eye. Alice was full of
the occasion; she danced and sang, and skipped about the house, in the
maddest manner possible, hugging us all around whenever some new
addition arrived to her already magnificent collection of gifts.
Such a trying on of dresses, and mantles and hats. Such endless
speculations about the ultimate crisis of the whole affair, and how it
would all come off. What the papers would say, and what people would
think. Such an arranging of after-sports, travels, and elaborate
receptions. I expected the hair, of not only the men, women, and
children, but of all the fur-bearing animals of the town, whether
alive, or in door mats, to stand rigidly on end with consternation at
sight of such realizations, and the teeth of all the combs and saws in
the country, to water with envy when the great climax would have
arrived.
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