The day came, brilliantly clear and soft and warm: such a day, in short, as Mr.Hardcastle had felt to be his due, and had expected of the elements all along as the one token of regard in their power to accord him, and he accepted his friends' congratulations upon it with a grave bow which seemed to say: "I ordered it so.

Pray, did you suppose I had forgotten to attend to the weather ?" The sun set in a cloudless heaven; the evening star hung quivering over the green-topped hills; the twilight dropped noiseless and fragrant over earth and water, and the long-dreamed-of moment had arrived at last.
"Just let me have one more look at you, Gerald, before you start," said Phebe, wistfully.

"Oh, how beautiful you look! Nobody's dresses ever fit like yours, and that great dark-red hat and feather,--I thought I should not like it,--but it makes a perfect picture of you." "For pity's sake do stop!" begged Gerald.

"You know of all things I hate compliments.

Where's that boy Olly ?" "He's coming to me later.