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The wedding was small and so subdued as to feel almost dreary Spink’s older brother had made the journey to witness the ceremony, and also, as Epiny so crudely put it, "to pay for the bride" I am sure his family had offered what it could, but it was not a substantial amount and of influence they had even less to barter I went and stood up with Spink’s brother and listened to the priest say the words that bound them to one another Epiny’s dress was simple, as was the lace veil she wore, and yet it still looked extravagant next to Spink in his evenuniform I suspected it would be the last use he would ever have for it It was the first tiust of wind could carry him off His eyes were still shadowed and his cheeks sunken, yet he spoke clearly when he thanked Epiny’s parents for giving her, and still ed to look happier than I’d ever seen his, I envied them both

I had very little time alone with Spink He wearied easily and Epiny was determined both to baby him and to have him to herself as ave hiood wishes, and then suddenly found s matter so much, and then suddenly they don’t onized that you and Gord had found a way to cheat It seereat importance to me then, a life-or-death matter Well, now I knohat a life-or-deathsee?"

He gavelook "Since we died and ca seereat deal then don’t hter "But I will confess the truth to you Yes I did cheat But Gord had nothing to do with it I wrote ‘6 ? 8 = 46’ on the inside of ht!" I exclaiaped at ht Epiny sweeping up to us to deed to win that response fro trip, which was only to last two days before they journeyed east again with Spink’s brother The little gathering dissolved alroom departed, and I was happy to seekwearied by all the excitement My uncle excused o with led in that harried way of men whose wives are intensely unhappy with theray so dark it was almost black She had not spoken one word to me and I was able to bow silently over her hand and escape

In my bedchamber, I sat and stared out theuntil the day faded to night Then, my decision made, I took paper and pen and wrote a careful but blunt letter to Carsina I addressed the envelope plainly to her, in care of her father The next day I arose early, dressed meticulously inI did was to postfaced that particular demon, I next rode Sirlofty to the Academy, where I called at Colonel Stiet’s residence I desperately hoped that I would find that he and his family had already moved out

But they were still there, and so I forced myself to do what I had promised myself I would do if I ever had the opportunity I would confront Caulder with his foul lie I presented the note he had sent me to the servant who answered the door The man expressed polite surprise and told me that he would first have to seek periven orders that he was not to be allowed to do anything that ht excite him in any way His health was still far too delicate

And so I was kept waiting for some little time in a finely appointed parlor I looked at the expensive prints on the walls, but did not sit in any of the grandly upholstered chairs I recalled bitterly that in ed worthy to be invited here I would not sit on his fine cushions now

I had expected that Caulder’sher boy But it was the servant who came back, with the simple request fro I assured the thy visit, and then followed hi roo on a lounge with a counterpane over his legs He looked worse than Spink had His arms were bony, so that his wrists and elbows looked unnaturally large A table with a pitcher of water, a glass, and the other accoutrements of a sickroom stood handy to him His knees made mountains beneath the coverlet, and he had perched several lead soldiers atop the at theently on the frame of the open door Caulder started, and two soldiers fell to the floor with a clatter "Beg pardon, young sir You have a guest," the ather up the toy soldiers and hand them back to Caulder The boy took them absently and did not speak a word to me until the man left the room