`` Do you really feel acquainted with your father ? '' whispered Sara Ray wonderingly . `` It 's long since you saw him . '' `` If I had n't seen him for a hundred years it would n't make any difference that way , '' laughed the Story Girl . `` S-s-h-s-s-h -- they 're coming , '' whispered Felicity excitedly . And then they came -- Beautiful Alice blushing and lovely , in the prettiest of pretty blue dresses , and the Awkward Man , so fervently happy that he quite forgot to be awkward . He lifted her out of the buggy gallantly and led her forward to us , smiling . We retreated before them , scattering our flowers lavishly on the path , and Alice Dale walked to the very doorstep of her new home over a carpet of blossoms . On the step they both paused and turned towards us , and we shyly did the proper thing in the way of congratulations and good wishes . `` It was so sweet of you to do this , '' said the smiling bride . `` It was lovely to be able to do it for you , dearest , '' whispered the Story Girl , `` and oh , Miss Reade -- Mrs. Dale , I mean -- we all hope you 'll be so , so happy for ever . '' `` I am sure I shall , '' said Alice Dale , turning to her husband . He looked down into her eyes -- and we were quite forgotten by both of them . We saw it , and slipped away , while Jasper Dale drew his wife into their home and shut the world out . We scampered joyously away through the moonlit dusk . Uncle Blair joined us at the gate and the Story Girl asked him what he thought of the bride . `` When she dies white violets will grow out of her dust , '' he answered . `` Uncle Blair says even queerer things than the Story Girl , '' Felicity whispered to me . And so that beautiful day went away from us , slipping through our fingers as we tried to hold it . It hooded itself in shadows and fared forth on the road that is lighted by the white stars of evening .
It had been a gift XXXXX Paradise .
If as by from into of since than to with