"Rather. Only chance you get of appearing in this thoroughly becoming kit that carries us all back to the worst days of Woman's Enslavement. May as well take that chance!" remarked Miss Long cheerfully, as she shook out soft, transparent folds of finest white net that she herself had embroidered, working late into the night, with a border of leaves in white silk. "This is from me."
"Oh, _Les_-lie! You got it as a surprise for me," said the little bride, much touched. "You worked all these beautiful little laurel-leaves----"
"Not laurel, child. Meant for myrtle. Pity your geography is so weak," rattled on Leslie, as she heard, outside the Club, the stopping of the taxi which had brought the Reverend Hugh Lloyd to call for his detachment of the bridal party. "Refreshingly unconventional sort of wedding you're having in some ways, aren't you? '_The presents were few and inexpensive_' (such a change from the usual report). '_The bride was attended by one bridesmaid: her friend Miss Long, clad in mauve linen, mystic, wonderful_'--(taking into consideration that it had done her cousin for Henley last year). '_The ceremony proceeded without a hitch, except for the usual attempt on the part of the officiating clergyman to marry the bride to the best man._' Which must not be, Taffy. You must remember that I've got designs on Mr. Hugo Swayne myself----"
"Don't, Leslie!" protested the bride. "You know I do so hate to think of you getting engaged in that sort of horrible way--instead of just because you can't _help_ it! If only there were somebody you could be really in love with----"
"I shall be really rather in love with Uncle Hugh, I know," prophesied the bridesmaid. "_What_ a pity he isn't thirty years younger! Come along. He's waiting. I'm going to kiss _him_, anyhow. Got your gloves? Right. Got my hankerfish? You won't _want_ to shed any tears into it, but----"
But there was an added brightness in the green-brown eyes of the little bride as she glanced round the girlish room where Leslie would pack up and put everything to rights for her after she had gone.
Impulsively she put her arms round that good chum.
"You've been so--so frightfully sweet to me, Leslie, always. Thanks so awfully----"