She said it was a matter of life or death, and you'd be sure to pay attention to it if you were before the altar." But Mollie had not listened.

She tore open the buff envelope, and the gazers saw her turn deathly pale as she read.
She crushed the letter in her hand and turned impetuously to the girl.
"Where is the person who brought this?
I must see her at once.

Bring her here; and you, young ladies, let me speak two words to her in private." The young ladies trooped out, and the bride was left alone, paler than her snowy robes.
A moment, and Lucy was back with the bearer of the letter, a respectable-looking young person enough.
Lucy left her mistress and the girl standing together.

Five minutes after the bell rang sharply.

Lucy hastened back; on the threshold the bride met and stopped her, with a white, startled face.
"Tell them to postpone the ceremony for an hour, Lucy.