I knew things were going too well to last . '' Charlotta the Fourth seemed certainly to have borrowed a leaf out of Miss Eliza Andrews ' book . It did not rain , though it kept on looking as if it meant to . By noon the rooms were decorated , the table beautifully laid ; and upstairs was waiting a bride , `` adorned for her husband . '' `` You do look sweet , '' said Anne rapturously . `` Lovely , '' echoed Diana . `` Everything 's ready , Miss Shirley , ma'am , and nothing dreadful has happened YET , '' was Charlotta 's cheerful statement as she betook herself to her little back room to dress . Out came all the braids ; the resultant rampant crinkliness was plaited into two tails and tied , not with two bows alone , but with four , of brand-new ribbon , brightly blue . The two upper bows rather gave the impression of overgrown wings sprouting from Charlotta 's neck , somewhat after the fashion of Raphael 's cherubs . But Charlotta the Fourth thought them very beautiful , and after she had rustled into a white dress , so stiffly starched that it could stand alone , she surveyed herself in her glass with great satisfaction ... a satisfaction which lasted until she went out in the hall and caught a glimpse through the spare room door of a tall girl in some softly clinging gown , pinning white , star-like flowers on the smooth ripples of her ruddy hair . `` Oh , I 'll NEVER be able to look like Miss Shirley , '' thought poor Charlotta despairingly . `` You just have to be born so , I guess ... do n't seem 's if any amount of practice could give you that AIR . '' By one o'clock the guests had come , including Mr. and Mrs. Allan , for Mr. Allan was to perform the ceremony in the absence of the Grafton minister on his vacation . There was no formality about the marriage . Miss Lavendar came down the stairs to meet her bridegroom at the foot , and as he took her hand she lifted her big brown eyes to his with a look that made Charlotta the Fourth , who intercepted it , feel queerer than ever . They went out to the honeysuckle arbor , where Mr. Allan was awaiting them . The guests grouped themselves as they pleased . Anne and Diana stood by the old stone bench , with Charlotta the Fourth between them , desperately clutching their hands in her cold , tremulous little paws . Mr. Allan opened his blue book and the ceremony proceeded . Just as Miss Lavendar and Stephen Irving were pronounced man and wife a very beautiful and symbolic thing happened .
The sun suddenly burst XXXXX the gray and poured a flood of radiance on the happy bride .
Out after at between by that through to until with