the wedding ceremony was performed. If Johnny had been one of the group,
while her own poor little self was left out, necklace, slippers, and
all, she would have thought it unjust.

As it was, it seemed hard enough. She was in total darkness, but her
"mind made pictures while her eyes were shut." She could almost see how
the bride and bridegroom looked, holding each other by the hand, with the
tall Percy on one side, and the short Prudy on the other,--the dear
Prudy, who was so sorry for her sister that she could not enjoy taking
her place, though a fairer little bridesmaid than she made could hardly
be found in the city.

The same clergyman officiated now who had married Mr. and Mrs. Parlin
fifteen years before; and after he had married them over again, he made a
speech which caused Dotty to cry a little under her handkerchief; or, if
not the speech, it was the panacea that brought the tears--she did not
know which.

He said he remembered just how Edward Parlin and Mary Read looked when
they stood before him in the bloom of their youth, and promised to live
together as husband and wife. They had seemed very happy then; but he
thought they were happier now; he could read in their faces the history
of fifteen beautiful years. He did not wonder the time had passed very
pleasantly, for they knew how to make each other happy; they had tried to
do right, and they had three lovely children, who were blessings to them,
and would be blessings to any parents.

It was here that Dotty felt the tears start.

"I'm not a blessing at all," thought she; "he doesn't know anything about