“Oh, what finery it will be!” exclaimed Katherine, with a ripple of amused laughter.  “There will be the oddest assortment of garments that anyone can imagine.  I believe Oily Dave possesses a ‘top’ hat, and that will be certain to appear.”

“Never mind; we shall survive, I dare say, and so will the bishop if he comes,” Jervis answered; and then the talk of the two wandered on to the golden future which they were to spend together, while the glad sunshine filtered down upon them through the pine boughs, and the world was a joyous place because of the love which made everything beautiful.

Jervis chalked the general invitation to the wedding on the board outside the store next day, and great was the satisfaction which the announcement produced.  If everyone was invited, then no one felt left out in the cold; and immediately there ensued a great bustle of preparation for the function, which certainly would be the event of the year to the dwellers on the bay shore.

Katherine and Mrs. Burton were busier than anyone, for they had the store to spring-clean, and that was a task calling for hard work and careful management.  There was also the question of wedding garments; but these, in consideration of the limited stock of materials at their disposal, could not amount to much.  For a bridal dress, Katherine had decided on a white embroidered muslin which had been her one extravagance when she was in Montreal, and which was made with a high neck and long sleeves.  Sometimes she wondered if embroidered muslin were quite the right material for the wedding dress of a fisherman’s wife; but as she had no other frock which would serve, it had to be that or nothing.

The days slipped away one by one, and at last they were watching hourly for the return of the men who had been sent to Maxohama for the clergyman.  It was a glorious day early in June when Katherine, who had been over to Fort Garry with Phil, was rowing up the back creek, and came suddenly upon quite a procession of small boats which was passing up river.

“Hurrah!  It is Mr. Selincourt!” yelled Phil, pulling off his cap and waving it like mad.

“And Mary!” exclaimed Katherine, who suddenly went rosy red, for in the last boat of all was an elderly man, with a kind face and a clerical air, whom she instantly recognized as the bishop from the description Jervis had given her of him.

“Katherine, Katherine, how bonny you look!” cried Mary, and then the boats came nearer together, and greetings became general.

Katherine was introduced to the bishop, who bowed and smiled in a kindly fashion, although introductions at fifteen or twenty yards apart are rather awkward affairs.  Then Mary insisted on being transferred to Katherine’s boat, and as unceremoniously ordered Phil to occupy the place she was leaving.

“Oh, my dear, I am glad to be back again!” she cried, as she settled herself on the seat from which she had just turned Phil.