There sat at her side a stout and solemn woman, who was evidently from a strange, almost ironical likeness her mother.

The young lady seemed to regard both the place and the occasion as the greatest joke in the world.

She flung her eyes from one to another as though inviting some one to share her merriment.
Amongst that black-garbed assembly the blue dress shone out as though it would attract everything to itself.

"She's very pretty," thought Maggie, who was more conscious of her shabby clothes than ever.

But her chief feeling was of surprise that so brilliant a bird had been able to penetrate into the chapel at all.