"Ah, ha! If Rachel be an old maid, what is Grace? Come, my dear,
resign yourself! There is nothing more unbecoming than want of
perception of the close of young-ladyhood."

"Of course I know we are not quite young girls now," said Grace, half
perplexed, half annoyed.

"Exactly, from this moment we are established as the maiden sisters
of Avonmouth, husband and wife to one another, as maiden pairs always
are."

"Then thus let me crown, our bridal," quoth Grace, placing on her
sister's head the wreath of white roses.

"Treacherous child!" cried Rachel, putting up her hands and tossing
her head, but her sister held her still.

"You know brides always take liberties. Please, dear, let it stay
till the mother has been in, and pray don't talk, before her of being
so very old."

"No, I'll not be a shock to her. We will silently assume our
immunities, and she will acquiesce if they come upon her gradually."

Grace looked somewhat alarmed, being perhaps in some dread of
immunities, and aware that Rachel's silence would in any one else
have been talkativeness.

"Ah, mother dear, good morning," as a pleasant placid-looking lady