noon
A happy party of friends was assembled at the Hall that day for a double purpose -- to meet the returning bridegroom and bride , who were expected to arrive that evening , and to assist at their wedding reception , which was to be further graced by two new bridals the next morning ; for it had been arranged by correspondence that Stephen Lyle and Laura Lytton and Joseph Brent and Electra Coroni should be married on that occasion . All was ready : the house newly-restored , decorated and furnished , the rooms aired and adorned with flowers , and the wedding-breakfast laid out in the long dining-room . The supper-table for the returning travelers was set in the small dining-room opening upon the garden of roses . Carriages had been sent from the Hall early that morning to meet the travelers , who were expected to reach Wendover by the noon train from Richmond and to come direct to the Hall , so as to arrive in time for an early tea . On the delightful porch in front of the house , that commanded a view of the carriage-drive and the forest road beyond , sat a pleasant group , enjoying the magnificent sunset of that mountain region , and watching the road or the first appearance of the carriage that was to bring home their beloved young friends . This happy group was composed of Mrs. Fanning , Laura Lytton , Electra Coroni , Stephen Lyle and Joseph Brent . `` I hope they will arrive before the sun goes quite down .