Page:By order of the Czar.djvu/251

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BY ORDER OF THE CZAR. 239

and set Jenny and her sister talking of the one wedding in particular which was already beginning to interest Jenny very much.

" Of course," she said, when they were parting for the night, Jenny visiting her sister in her white bedroom, that looked out upon the courtyard, " of course it must take place at Norwood ; it would never do for you to be married from your brother-in-law's house, it would look as if your father and mother were nobodies, as if they were not living in good style ; and they are ; and I think some of our friends will be astonished to see in what good style they do live, and what kind of a house."

" It is all one to me, as Sam Selwyn would say," re- marked Dolly.

" Why quote Sam Selwyn, dear ? " asked Jenny, some- what reproachfully.

" Don't we always quote him when we want to use a good phrase that is more or less slangy ? "

" Yes, we have that habit, but I don't think it is a good one ; besides, it is just as well that we should try and relinquish the habit, now that we have finally made up our choice of Philip and let Sam slide."

" As Sam would put it," remarked Dolly, interrupting her sister with a laugh.

" Poor Sam," said Jenny, " he is a good fellow, and we must not lose him as a friend ; even Walter is worldly enough to say so."

" But is there anything particularly worldly in keeping friends with Mr. Selwyn ? " Dolly asked.

" I don't know ; he will be very rich, everybody says so ; is now, I believe, for that matter."

" And somehow, after all, much as you preach the other way, Jenny, you do not seem to have quite made up your mind that there is not a chance for Sam yet."

" Nonsense, Dolly ; how can you say so ? "