treated with resigned impatience. Mary's taste, counsel, and needle
did good service; her hearty interest and consideration were given to
the often-turned volume of designs for bedsteads, sofas, and window-
curtains; and Miss Mercy herself had hardly so many resources for
making old furniture new. Many of her happiest half-hours with Louis
were spent as she sewed the stiff slippery chintz, and he held the
curtain rings, while Aunt Catharine went to inspect the workmen, and
many a time were her cares forgotten, and her active spirits resumed,
while Louis acted carpenter under her directions, and rectified
errors of the workmen. It might not be poetical, but the French sky-
blue paper, covered with silvery fern-leaves, that Louis took such
pains to procure, and the china door-handles that he brought over in
his pockets, and the great map which Mary pasted over the obstinate
spot of damp in the vestibule, were the occasions of the greatest
blitheness and merriment that they shared together. Much did they
enjoy the prediction that James would not know his own house; greatly
did they delight in sowing surprises, and in obtaining Aunt
Catharine's never-failing start of well-pleased astonishment. Each
wedding present was an event;--Mr. Mansell's piano, which
disconcerted all previous designs; Lord Ormersfield's handsome plate;
and many a minor gift from old scholars, delighted to find an
occasion when an offering would not be an offence. Even Mr. Calcott
gave a valuable inkstand, in which Mrs. Frost and Louis beheld
something of forgiveness.

Isabel had expressed a wish that Mary should be one of her
bridesmaids. A wedding was not the scene which poor Mary wished to
witness at present; but she saw Louis bent on having her with him,
and would not vex him by reluctance. He had also prevailed on his
father to be present, though the Earl was much afraid of establishing