"There's the dinner-bell," she suddenly exclaimed, "I did not think it
could be _one_. Only four hours more--but come, let us go down and
after dinner, if you'll never tell Mrs. Peters, nor anybody, I'll try
on my bridal dress and let you see if it is becoming. I want so much
to know how it looks, since Maria put the rose-buds in the berthe. And
then your story. I must hear that."

As they were going down the stairs Miss Porter took Rosamond's hand
and said, "How is this?--Where is my ring?"

Rosamond could not tell her of an act which now that it no longer had
insanity for an excuse, puzzled her not a little. So she made some
trivial excuse, which, however, did not deceive her auditor. But the
latter deemed it wise to say no more just then, and silently followed
her young friend into the dining-room. Dinner being over they went up
to Rosamond's chamber, the closet of which contained the bridal robes.

"_Two o'clock_," said Rosamond, consulting her watch, then bringing
out the rich white satin and exquisite overskirt of lace, she
continued, "I shall have just time to try this on, hear your story and
get dressed before Mr. Browning comes. How short the day seems with
you here! I told him I'd be sitting in that little box which you
possibly noticed, built on the gate-post against the tree.--And he'll
be so disappointed not to find me there, that maybe you won't mind my
leaving you awhile when the sun is right over the woods."

"Certainly not," answered Miss Porter, and the dressing-up process
began, Rosamond chatting gayly all the while and asking if it were
very foolish for her to try on the dress. "I should not do it," she
said, "if you would stay. Can't you?"