Part 51 (1/2)
THE BRIDE!
Miss Peters was lying in sound slumber, and Mrs. Butler, with a wet sponge in her hand, was standing over the little spinster's bed.
”Maria,” she said, in her sharp voice. And at the same moment the sponge descended with unerring aim on the sleeper's upturned face.
”Good heavens--fire--water! What is it?--I'm drowning--” gasped Miss Peters.
She raised her eyes, choked, for her mouth had been open, and some of the contents of the sponge had got in, and then surveyed her sister in trepidation.
”Oh, Martha, it's you. How you frightened me!”
”I only applied the sponge,” replied Mrs. Butler. ”It's an old-fas.h.i.+oned remedy for inordinate drowsiness, and effectual.”
”But surely, surely--I feel as if I had only just dropped to sleep.”
”Maria, it's five o'clock.”
”Five! What do you mean, Martha? Am I to be accused of inordinate sleepiness at five in the morning?”
”On this morning you are. This is the wedding morning--get up, dress yourself. Put on your bridal finery, and join me in the parlor.”
Mrs. Butler left the room. Miss Peters rubbed her sleepy eyes again.
”The wedding morning! and my bridal finery!” she murmured. ”One would think poor Sam had never been drowned. I don't think Martha has any heart. She knows how I suffered about Sam. He certainly never proposed for me, but he was attentive--yes, he was attentive, and I--I suffered.
It's thirty years now since he was drowned. Martha oughtn't to forget.
People have no memories in these days.”
The little lady began to put on her garments.
”It does seem extraordinarily early to have to get up, even though Bee is to be married at eleven o'clock to-day,” she murmured. ”Certainly, Martha is a most masterful person. Well, I don't mind so much, as it is for Bee's sake.”
Miss Peters proceeded with her toilet, took tenderly out of its folds of camphor and white linen, a little antiquated brown silk dress, put it on, crossed over her shoulders a neat fichu of white lace, mounted her bonnet, composed of a piece of silk, which she had artfully removed from the skirt of her dress. This bonnet was trimmed with three enormous lemon-colored chrysanthemums, and was further embellished with a pink ruching, which surrounded the good lady's face.
Miss Peters almost trembled as she placed this exquisite head-dress over her scanty locks. The moment the bonnet was on, she became conscious of an immense amount of moral support. In that bonnet she could even defy Mrs. Butler.
”Nothing gives a lady such a nice feeling as being properly dressed,”
she murmured. ”I am glad I went to the expense of a bit of pink silk to make this ruching. It is wonderfully soft, and becoming, too. I hope Martha won't object to the chrysanthemums. I chose the largest Perry had in his shop on purpose, in order not to be accused of aping youth. Now, my parasol, my gloves, my handkerchief. Oh, and my fan. I'm sure to flush a little when I see that dear child being given away. Now I'm quite ready. It certainly is an extraordinarily early hour to be dressed for a wedding, which is not to take place till eleven o'clock.”
”Maria!” screamed Mrs. Butler's voice. ”If you're not quick, you'll not have time to swallow your coffee.”
”Dear, dear!” exclaimed Miss Peters, ”is Martha's head going? I have not been half-an-hour dressing; can she have mistaken the hour?”
The little spinster ran downstairs.
”Here I am, Martha. Really I--”
”Not a word, Maria. Sit down at once, and drink off your coffee. You can munch a bit of bread in your hand as we go along.”
”But, Martha, it is not six o'clock yet.”