I said: Let me look at you... And he turned about the way a mannequin does.

I said: How handsome you are! I could marry you myself!

He laughed in his turn and said: And I say the same, Laurel... you are like a dream come true.

Then we heard Annabelle's voice saying: And I — am I not a dream come true...?

She rushed up wanting to kiss Tom, but he held her off, saying: Careful — I'm the bridegroom!... Then he added: Charlie will be your mark...

She said, grumbling: Charlie? I know him only too well.

My brother said: Then there's Jody, the bride's cousin and our best man.

She said: And I know him too... Then she cried: I want a perfect, heavenly man... a man I don't know well.

And my brother, going off to his car, said: All right, all right...

I followed him to the door and he whispered: Keep watch over Jonathan — she knows what plans you are laying!

I was not listening... I was thinking of the house without Tom... We had grown up together... we had always been friends, and I would miss him greatly... I embraced him... laid my cheek against his and said, trying to laugh: No kisses — the lipstick is there... Good luck to you, my dear... the happiest luck in the world, brother.

He said: And to you, my sweet darling... and he held me for a minute in which I understood that he would miss me too.

The religious ceremony ended and there were the usual kisses... I saw Annabelle fling herself at Jonathan and kiss him ardently... I heard her say to him: Oh Joe, I love you... and I saw those around her smile at the word... Then I saw Joe put her away from him, saying: Go and stand by the bride.

And she pleaded: Please, Joe — and smiled her angelic smiles... I felt she was a child, and yet I was glad when someone came and led her to the bride's side.

I glanced at Joe... Was I really afraid Annabelle might sway him...? Of course not... But I could not forget Roger... Only here it was different... I had let Roger go; but for Joe I would fight... But would I really fight? No — I would not lift a finger if he showed a liking for Annabelle... Pride stands hard in my heart... But why all these thoughts... why was I making a mountain out of a grain of sand...

I woke from my dreams and looked about me... Some were drinking toasts... some making speeches or reading telegrams... while the bride had gone up

to change her clothes... But by the door there was a crowd gathering...

I heard Joe's voice saying: Stand back from her — let the air reach her...

The people drew back and I saw Annabelle... She was sitting on a low seat, her eyes closed and her face pale... one of her hands flung out to the side... slender as a sick child's.

I hurried to her... my little sister... my darling...

Joe said: She has fainted; she will come round in a minute.

And I heard her whisper: Take me home.

He said: Come now, you're not as tired as all that... But she shook her small head and said again: Take me home.

He turned to me and said: We had better take her.

And her weak, quavering voice said: There's no need for Laurel to come — Joe is enough... And two big tears rolled down from the closed eyes... And someone said: Poor little thing... she really does look ill.

Joe carried her... and it seemed to me that he was pressing her hard against his heart, and I said to myself reproachfully: You are too full of suspicions, Laurel... But my brother's voice whispered in my ear: Didn't I tell you...?

We took the bride and groom to their car and scattered rose petals over it, and off they drove... And all the while I was thinking... there is no one at home but those two.

Charles, the bride's brother, came up to me and said: You are alone and so am I, and it would please me if we walked together... Then he added: I take no great pleasure in the company of schoolgirls.

I felt relieved... A little schoolgirl — that is Annabelle... that is how people see her, while she wants to prove her existence and draw all eyes to herself... And Joe would come back now to say she was all right and that he had handed her over to Alice, the manager of our house... Alice had said earlier that she would not stay to the end of the celebration but would go home to prepare a few things... I looked around and did not see Alice, and I felt relieved.

But Joe did not come back... My mother came over to me and said: I'm tired — come, let's go home. And we went back.

Annabelle was in the sitting room with no trace of a faint upon her... She had changed her dress for one sprigged with little roses, and she looked lively, sweet, in perfect health.

Mother said: You never fainted once before? Annabelle said: Everything there was tiresome, and Joe said I must be careful in future.