3 June 1944

Dear Allan,

I've just waved the last guest off, and am now free to sit with my pen and paper and write a nice long letter to you, full of the details of Bella and Doug's wedding. I'm still in my bridesmaids dress. There's a terrible rip under the shoulder from dancing, and a stain near the hem where Cathy Douglas spilled her glass of punch all over me. It was an accident, but Cathy felt so bad about ruining my dress that she tipped the rest of it onto her own dress--on purpose. But I don't care about my dress. It was such a happy, rollicking, gay wedding that nothing could have spoiled my mood. We were all so happy--the only thing that could have made us happier would have been if you had been there! Doug said that if he couldn't have you, he wouldn't have a Best Man. And he kept his word--he didn't.

You should have seen the garden at Evensong--the Garden of Eden couldn't have been prettier. There were tables set up, with white linen cloths on them, and white fairy lights strung up in the trees. The guests were seated in rows in the garden, and the rest of us were in the house, waiting for the processional. Trudy Ford began to sing 'Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring,' which was our cue to walk. Joy, Bea and I started out. And oh, Allan, I made such a fool of myself. I looked down at my lovely bouquet--and there was a fat, jolly bumblebee buzzing away on it. You know how I've always hated bees! I'm irrationally afraid of them--always have been, always will be! I gave a little gasp--a little shriek--and shook my bouquet madly with both hands until the bee flew away. Unfortunately, I did this in clear view of everyone else. The guests must have thought I'd had a fit. Mother looked quite appalled. But Bella, who was behind me, had seen it all, and I was glad for my hijinks then, because Bella had been a bit pale and nervous before, but now she looked radiant. I heard Mrs. Sidney Gardner say to her friend that she'd never seen a happier bride.

I suppose I made a fool out of myself again when Doug and Bella said their vows. All three of us 'maids did--we bawled like little babies. It was just so sweet. They recited that passage from Ruth, you know, 'Whither thou goest I will go' Joy admitted later that she bawled because she was thinking of her own upcoming wedding to Jake Penhallow, and was worrying that it wouldn't be half as nice as this one. Bea told us that she was crying because she didn't think Mr. Walsh meant to ask her to marry him at all. I don't really know why I was crying.

Doug and Bella finished their vows and Reverend Meredith pronounced them man and wife. I'd never seen Doug so happy! We all clapped for them. I pounded my hands together so hard and fast--I felt like the smile would slip right off my face if I stopped. I thought then about how horribly I shall miss Doug, and didn't think I could bear it. But then he grabbed me and kissed me on the cheek and said, "I won't ever be further than a 'phone call, so get that look off your face, Big Sister." So I did.

We had a delicious supper in the garden and then we danced--Uncle Dean brought a band all the way from Montreal. Oh, and Allan! I met Bea's famous Mr. David Walsh. He's a nice fellow. He does have a little gray hair--but just around the ears. Bea is very sensitive of it, so don't mention it! She is more sensitive about it than he is, I think. Anyway, he is a perfectly nice man, and a terrific dancer--he took me on a whirl around the floor and I could barely keep up. "I've had a lot of practice," he laughed, when I complemented him on it. "I was dancing the Charleston when you were in diapers!" Jake and Joy didn't dance on account of his leg, but they looked happier than anyone else just sitting next to one another. The elder Mrs. Dr. Blythe, Joy's Gran, was sitting with them. She is a tiny lady with snow-white hair. I told you about her, she is the one who lent Bella her veil. "I'll lend it to you, too," she told me. "When your time comes. You look like a woman with the capacity to love--and love well."

Uncle Dean gave a speech in which he called Bella the 'child of his life,' and told us all how glad he was that Doug would be taking care of her now, since he, Uncle Dean, was getting too old too keep up! It was sweet. And Allan, you should have seen the hat your mother was wearing. It was purple, with a violet feather that shot two feet up in the air and blocked my view of everything!

Bella gathered the unmarried girls together to toss the bouquet. Then she looked at me--and smiled--and threw it right at me. I caught it for a second--held it in my grasp--and then Bea wrenched it from my hand and ran away! That minx! Joy and I chased her for a bit, but soon gave up. Bea's always been very quick. Anyway, she'd been gloating all afternoon, but I am the one who caught it really. I'm sure she will write about it to you, Allan, so I wanted you to know the way it really happened.

Bella changed into her going-away dress--a fluffy, pink-edged cream-colored creation that Uncle Dean brought her all the way from Paris, with a pink hat with a huge brim. I helped her get her things together for the train ride. She and Douglas are going to Niagara Falls for a week, and then will move into their little house in Guelph. It is a delicious, charming little house, even if it is in the city. I hear it was designed by Hilary Gordon, the famous architect, which probably explains it. I cannot wait to visit them and see it in person.

"Mrs. Kent, I'm Mrs. Kent," Bella kept saying. "It sounds so old--Mrs. Kent is your mother!"

"I'm sure you will get used to it, dear," I said.

And then they were gone--we waved and shouted to the car as it went around the last bend--and strangely, the lump I expected to find in my throat was no where to be found. Douglas is right. He will never be further than a phone call away. And he is happy. So happy.

Allan, dear, I am so glad to hear you are getting well! When you wrote that the hearing had returned in your ear I cried. I was glad--glad--gladder than glad! I got your letter with the picture of New Moon that Andalucia that drew. Tell her thanks from me. She is a very accomplished artist, but you must be sure to mention that there are no mountains in PEI! Also, we have red roads. And please tell the Annunzio's how grateful I am to them for taking such good care of you. They will always have an admirer in

Your friend,

Juliet