Nobody noticed him for a moment and he stood in the doorway looking at them with a smile , wondering what was the reason of the festal air that hung about them all as visibly as a garment . His mother sat by the table , industriously polishing the best silver spoons , which , as he remembered , were only brought forth upon some great occasion . Her eyes were as bright , her form as erect , her nose -- the Carston nose -- as pronounced and aristocratic as of yore . Selwyn saw little change in her . But was it possible that the tall , handsome young lady with the sleek brown pompadour and a nose unmistakably and plebeianly Grant , who sat by the window doing something to a heap of lace and organdy in her lap , was the little curly-headed , sunburned sister of thirteen whom he remembered ? The young man leaning against the sideboard must be Leo , of course ; a fine-looking , broad-shouldered young fellow who made Selwyn think suddenly that he must be growing old . And there was the little , thin , grey father in the corner , peering at his newspaper with nearsighted eyes . Selwyn 's heart gave a bound at the sight of him which not even his mother had caused . Dear old Dad ! The years had been kind to him . Mrs. Grant held up a glistening spoon and surveyed it complacently . `` There , I think that is bright enough even to suit Margaret Graham . I shall take over the whole two dozen teas and one dozen desserts . I wish , Bertha , that you would tie a red cord around each of the handles for me . The Carmody spoons are the same pattern and I shall always be convinced that Mrs. Carmody carried off two of ours the time that Jenny Graham was married . I do n't mean to take any more risks . And , Father -- '' Something made the mother look around , and she saw her first-born ! When the commotion was over Selwyn asked why the family spoons were being rubbed up . `` For the wedding , of course , '' said Mrs. Grant , polishing her gold-bowed spectacles and deciding that there was no more time for tears and sentiment just then . `` And there , they 're not half done -- and we 'll have to dress in another hour .
Bertha is no earthly use -- she is so taken up XXXXX her bridesmaid finery . ''
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