God to make them love me, will you? For it is very important, and--
If I act old, and dignified, they will think I am appropriate at least,
won't they? Oh, this horrible dress, I never can reach the hooks.
Will you try, David, there's my nice old boy. Oh, are you going down?
Well, I suppose one of us ought to be ready for them,--run along,--it's
lonesome without you,--but I have to powder my face, and-- Oh, that
was just the preliminary. The conclusion is always the same. Bye,
dearest." Then, solemnly, to her mirror, she said, "Isn't he the
blessedest old thing that ever was? My, I am glad Prudence got married
so long ago, or he might have wanted her instead of me. I don't
suppose the mansers could possibly object to a complexion like mine. I
can get a certificate from father to prove it is genuine, if they don't
believe it."

Then she gave her full attention to tucking up tiny, straying curls
with invisible hair pins, and was quite startled when David called
suddenly:

"Hurry up, Carol, I am waiting for you."

"Oh, bless its heart, I forgot all about it. I am coming."

Gaily she ran down the stairs, parted the curtains into the living-room
and said:

"Why are you sitting in the dark, David? Headache, or just plain
sentimental? Where are you?"

"Over here," he said, in a curious, quiet voice.