It veiled her from head to feet, and was held in place by a diamond coronal.

All her eight maids, though lovely girls, looked wan and of the earth beside her.

For her sake they had been content with the simplicity of chiffon and white lace hats, and she stood among them lustrous as some angelic being.

Stanhope was entranced by her beauty, and no one on this day wondered at his infatuation or thought remarkable the ecstasy of reverent rapture with which he received the hand of his bride.

His sense of the gift was ravishing.