CHAPTER IV.
THE BRIDE It was remarked by Tommy's brother-officers on the following day that it was he rather than the bride who displayed all the shyness that befitted the occasion.
As he walked up the aisle with his sister's hand on his arm, his face was crimson and reluctant, and he stared straight before him as if unwilling to meet all the watching eyes that followed their progress.
But the bride walked proudly and firmly, her head held high with even the suspicion of an upward, disdainful curve to her beautiful mouth, the ghost of a defiant smile.

To all who saw her she was a splendid spectacle of bridal content.
"Unparalleled effrontery!" whispered Lady Harriet, surveying the proud young face through her lorgnettes.
"Ah, but she is exquisite," murmured Mrs.Ralston with a wistful mist in her faded eyes.
"'Faultily faultless, icily regular, splendidly null,'" scoffed little Mrs.Ermsted upon whose cheeks there bloomed a faint fixed glow.
Yes, she was splendid.

Even the most hostile had to admit it.

On that, the day of her final victory, she surpassed herself.

She shone as a queen with majestic self-assurance, wholly at her ease, sublimely indifferent to all criticism.
At the chancel-steps she bestowed a brief smile of greeting upon her waiting bridegroom, and for a single moment her steady eyes rested, though without any gleam of recognition, upon the dark face of the best man.
Then the service began, and with the utmost calmness of demeanour she took her part.
When the service was over, Tommy extended his hesitating invitation to Lady Harriet and his commanding officer to follow the newly wedded pair to the vestry.