"The impertinent little wretch! Let her wait until I am Mr. Walraven's
wife!"

"Vague and terrible! When is it to be?"

"The wedding? Next month."

"Poor Walraven! There, Blanche, don't flash up, pray! When you are
married you will want to get blue-eyed Mollie off your hands, so please
transfer her to me, little flash of lightning that she is! I always did
like unbroken colts for the pleasure of taming them."

Mrs. Walraven was told of her son's approaching marriage the day after
the dinner-party; disapproved, but said nothing. Mollie disapproved, and
said everything.

"It's of no use talking now, Mollie!" her guardian exclaimed,
impatiently. "I must and will marry Blanche."

"And, oh! what a pitiable object you will be twelve months after! But
I'll never desert you--never strike my flag to the conqueress. 'The boy
stood on the burning deck.' I'll be a second Casi--what you may call
him? to you. I'll be bride-maid now, and your protector from the lovely
Blanche in the future."

She kept her word. In spite of Miss Oleander's dislike, she was first
bride-maid when the eventful day arrived.

But fairer than the bride, fairest of the rosy bevy of bride-maids,