Page:The Galaxy, Volume 5.djvu/482

468 Holt's magnificent mansion! She seemed neither happy nor unhappy. I had no patience with her coldness. I was afraid that underneath her calm she was hiding her thwarted passion, and, though I believe in love, old maid that I am, I didn't believe that love was what Camilla Mason required!

A few days prior to the day, Jenny Brewster came in. Of course she was shown the bridal finery.

"Corded silk," she commented, examining the make of the wedding dress. "Very pretty; but why in the world did you have it high neck? I'm going to have low neck and a Honiton berthe."

I saw a gray shade go over Camilla's face.

"It is all decided then, eh?" I asked of Jenny. She colored and acted as if she had said what she didn't mean to.

It was the night before the wedding. I had written to Jack that he must come on. I thought Camilla might as well get over her weakness first as last. He had not yet arrived, though, and I was in considerable trouble about it.

Camilla would seldom allow me to leave her alone with her lover, but that night, both from having some things to see to and from a feeling of humanity toward the man who had given me a cashmere, I left the parlor at nine o'clock, and went to make a final review of the preparations, which had progressed finely. The jellies were exhibiting more consistency in their conduct than home-made jellies sometimes do. The frosting of the cakes had neither blistered nor cracked. The borrowed silver was safe under lock and key. Up stairs, in the spare chamber, the white silk spread amply over the bed. The boxes containing gloves, fan and veil, were in their appointed places. The pearls, owing to my precaution, were hidden from sight in the shoe bag. I went down stairs saying to myself: "She certainly is going to do well!" Mr. Holt was just departing. Poor man! I had not heard him cough once within the past hour.

The following morning dawned gloriously, with the glow and sparkle which only October mornings have. The wedding preparations had encroached everywhere, so we were eating biscuits from the pile of which Nancy was making sandwiches, and drinking our coffee standing, in the kitchen. All of a sudden, in walked Jack Claës. He looked strangely excited. "Camilla," he said, abruptly, "I must see you a minute." She set her cup down and followed him, without a word.

A half hour passed. I was beginning to get flurried, when the street door shut pretty loudly, and Camilla's voice said from the parlor: "Miss Denby."

I went directly to her. " My dear, what is it?"

"I shall not be married to-day," she said, in the most ordinary of tones. "I have to go away."