"The young person that brought it is waiting in the hall, miss," said
Lucy. "I didn't want to take it, and I told her you was just about
getting married, but it was no use. She said it was a matter of life or
death, and you'd be sure to pay attention to it if you were before the
altar."

But Mollie had not listened. She tore open the buff envelope, and the
gazers saw her turn deathly pale as she read.

She crushed the letter in her hand and turned impetuously to the girl.

"Where is the person who brought this? I must see her at once. Bring her
here; and you, young ladies, let me speak two words to her in private."

The young ladies trooped out, and the bride was left alone, paler than
her snowy robes.

A moment, and Lucy was back with the bearer of the letter, a
respectable-looking young person enough.

Lucy left her mistress and the girl standing together. Five minutes
after the bell rang sharply. Lucy hastened back; on the threshold the
bride met and stopped her, with a white, startled face.

"Tell them to postpone the ceremony for an hour, Lucy. Come back here
then. For the next hour I wish to be left alone. Tell Mr. Walraven."

She shut the door in the amazed attendant's face. Lucy heard the key
turn. A second she stood petrified, then she hastened off to deliver her