white dress with the black stripe--the one you were playing tennis
with at the Arlingtons'--would do splendidly. You looked simply
splendid that day. I am inclined to think that it is my favourite of
all your dresses, with the exception of the dark one with the light-
green front. That shows off your figure so splendidly. I am very
fond also of the grey Quaker-like alpaca dress. What a little dove
you do look in it! I think those dresses, and of course your satin
evening-dress, are my favourites. On second thoughts, they are the
only dresses I have ever seen you in. But I like the grey best,
because you wore it the first time I ever--you remember! You must
NEVER get rid of those dresses. They are too full of associations.
I want to see you in them for years, and years, and years.

What I wanted to say was that you have so many charming dresses, that
we may consider ourselves independent of Madame Mortimer. If her
things should be late, they will come in very usefully afterwards. I
don't want to be selfish or inconsiderate, my own dearest girlie, but
it would be rather too much if we allowed my tailor or your
dressmaker to be obstacles to our union. I just want you--your
dainty little self--if you had only your 'wee coatie,' as Burns says.
Now look here! I want you to bring your influence to bear upon your
mother, and so make a small change in our plans. The earlier we can
have our honeymoon, the more pleasant the hotels will be. I do want
your first experiences with me to be without a shadow of discomfort.
In July half the world starts for its holiday. If we could get away
at the end of this mouth, we should just be ahead of them. This
month, this very month! Oh, do try to manage this, my own dearest
girl. The 30th of June is a Tuesday, and in every way suitable.
They could spare me from the office most excellently. This would
just give us time to have the banns three times, beginning with next