"
"Thank you, father," returned the groom gravely, but with a twinkle of
merriment in his eye.
Aunt Wealthy, standing close by awaiting her turn to greet the bride,
shook her head at her nephew. "Ah, you are quite too old for that, Horace.
Mr. Vanilla, I wish you joy; but what am I to call you now?"
"Edward, if you please, Aunt Wealthy."
"Ah, yes, that will do nicely; it's a good name--so easily forgotten.
Elsie, dearie, you went through it brave as a lion. May you never wish
you'd lived your lane like your auld auntie."
"As if single blessedness could ever be real blessedness!" sneered Enna,
coming up just in time to catch the last words.
"Our feelings change as we grow older," returned Miss Stanhope, in her
gentle, refined tones, "and we come to look upon quiet and freedom from
care as very desirable things."
"And I venture to say that old age is not likely to find Mrs. Percival so
happy and contented as is my dear old maiden aunt," remarked Mr. Dinsmore.
"Yet we will hope it may, papa," said Elsie, receiving Enna's salutation
with kindly warmth.
But the list of relatives, near connections, and intimate friends, is too
long for particular mention of each. All the Dinsmores were there, both
married and single; also most of the Allisons.
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