-fashionedEpiscopalianNewYork, sheusuallyaccompaniedherparentstochurchonSundayafternoons; , havingthatverymorningwonherovertothenecessityofalongengagement, withtimetoprepareahand-embroideredtrousseaucontainingthepropernumberofdozens.
, 'sradiance, , andthesimplejoyofpossessorshipclearedawayhisunderlyingperplexities.
"It'ssodelicious—wakingeverymorningtosmelllilies-of-the-valleyinone'sroom!" shesaid.
"'ttimeinthemorning—"
"Butyourrememberingeachdaytosendthemmakesmelovethemsomuchmorethanifyou'dgivenastandingorder, andtheycameeverymorningontheminute, likeone'smusic-teacher—asIknowGertrudeLefferts'sdid, forinstance, whensheandLawrencewereengaged."
"Ah—theywould!" laughedArcher, -likecheekandfeltrichandsecureenoughtoadd: "?"
"Howdearofyou! 'soddshedidn'tmentionit: shelunchedwithustoday, 'shavingsentherwonderfulorchids, 'tpeoplesendtheminEurope? Shethinksitsuchaprettycustom."
"Oh, well, nowonderminewereovershadowedbyBeaufort's," , : "Icalledonyourcousinyesterday," , theirfuture, 'sinsistenceonalongengagement.
"Ifyoucallitlong! IsabelChiversandReggiewereengagedfortwoyears: 'tweverywelloffasweare?"
Itwasthetraditionalmaidenlyinterrogation, ; butshewasnearinghertwenty-secondbirthday, andhewonderedatwhatage "nice" womenbegantospeakforthemselves.
"Never, ifwewon'tletthem, Isuppose," hemused, : "Womenoughttobeasfreeasweare—"
