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hard cash-第83章

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t in the drawing…room; and some coolish tea was。 After waiting half an hour he got impatient; and sent Sarah to say he had a message for her。 Sarah went upstairs to Mrs。 Dodd's room; and was instantly absorbed。 After waiting again for a long time; Alfred persuaded Edward to try his luck。 Edward went up to Mrs。 Dodd's room; and was absorbed。

The wedding dress was being solemnly tried on。 A clean linen sheet was on the floor; and the bride stood on it; receiving the last touches of the milliner's art。 With this and her white poplin and lace veil she seemed framed in white; and her cheeks bloomed so; and her eyes beamed; with excitement and innocent vanity; that altogether she was supernaturally lovely。

Once enter the room enchanted by this snow…chad rose; and_Vestigia nulla retrorsum。_

However; Edward escaped at last and told Alfred what was on foot; and drew a picture of the Bride with white above and white below。

〃Oh; let me see her;〃 implored the lover。

Edward must ask mamma about that。 He did; and mamma said 〃Certainly not; the last person in the world that shall see her in her wedding dress。〃 But she should come down to him in half an hour。 It seemed a very long half…hour。 However; by way of compensation; he was alone when she did come。 〃Good news?〃 she asked eagerly。

〃Capital: we are the best of friends。 Why she is half inclined to _come。_〃

〃Thenoh how good you are: oh; how I love you。〃

And she flung a tender arm round his neck; like a young goddess making love; and her sweet face came so near his; he had only to stoop a little; and their lips met in a long blissful kiss。

That kiss was an era in her life。 Innocence itself; she had put up her delicious lips to her lover in pure; though earnest affection; but the male fire with which his met them; made her blush as well as thrill; and she drew back a little; ashamed and half scared; and nestled on his shoulder; hiding a face that grew redder and redder。

He bent his graceful head; and murmured down to her; 〃Are you afraid of me; sweetest?〃

〃Oh no; no! Yes; a little。 I don't know。 I was afraid I had made too free with my Treasure; you don't quite belong to me yet; you know。〃

〃Oh yes; I do; and; what is more; you belong to me。 Don't you; sweet rebel?〃

〃Ah; that I do; heart and soul; my own; own; own。〃

A few more soft delicious murmurs; and then Julia was summoned to more rites of vanity; and the lovers parted with tender reluctance for those few hours。

Alfred went home to his lodgings。 He had not been there above ten minutes; when he came out hastily; and walked quickly to the 〃White Lion;〃 the principal inn in Barkington。 He went into the stable…yard; and said a few words to the ostler: then returned to his lodgings。

The man followed him at a distance from Albion Terrace; watched him home; dogged him to the 〃White Lion;〃 and; by…and…bye; entered the yard and offered the ostler a glass of ale at the tap。


At Albion Villa they were working on Julia's dresses till past midnight: and then Mrs。 Dodd insisted on her going to bed。 She obeyed; but when the house was all quiet; came stealing out to her mother; and begged to sleep with her: the sad mother strained her in a tearful embrace: and so they passed the night; clinging to one another more as the parting drew near。

Edward arranged the wedding breakfast for after the ceremony; and sent the ladies up a cup of coffee; and a bit of toast apiece。 They could hardly find appetite even for this; or indeed time; there was so much still to do。

At ten o'clock Julia was still in the height of dressing; delayed by _contretemps_ upon _contretemps。_ Sarah and her sister did her hair up too loose; and; being a glorious mass; it threatened all to come down and; meantime; a hair…pin quietly but persistently bored her cream…white poll。

〃Oh; run for mamma!〃 she cried。

Mamma came half dressed; had the hair all down again; and did it up with adroit and loving hand; and put on the orange wreath; kissed her admiringly; and retired to her own toilet; and the girls began to lace the bride's body。

Bump came Edward's foot against the door; making them all shriek。

〃Now I don't want to hurry you; but Dr。 Sampson is come。〃 The handmaids; flustered; tried to go faster; and; when the work was done; Julia took her little handglass and inspected her back: 〃Oh;〃 she screamed; 〃I am crooked。 There; go for mamma!〃

Mamma soon came; and the poor bride held out imploring hands; 〃I'm all awry; I'm as crooked as a ram's horn。〃

〃La; miss;〃 said Sarah; 〃it's only behind; nobody will notice it。〃

〃How can they help it? Mamma! _am_ I deformed?〃

Mrs。 Dodd smiled superior and bade her be calm: 〃It is the lacing; dear。 No; Sarah; it is no use your _pulling_ it; all the pulling in the world will not straighten it。 I thought so: you have missed the second top hole。〃

Julia's little foot began to beat a tattoo on the floor: 〃There is not a soul in the house but you can do the simplest thing。 Eyes and no eyes! Fingers and no fingers! I never did。〃

〃Hush; love; we all do our best。〃

〃Oh; I am sure of that; poor things。〃

_〃Nobody_ can lace you if you fidget about love;〃 objected Mrs。 Dodd。

(Bump)! 〃Now I don't want to hurry any man's cattle: but the bridesmaids are come。〃

〃Oh dear; I shall never be ready in time;〃 said Julia; and the tattoo recommenced。

〃Plenty of time; love;〃 said Mrs。 Dodd; quietly lacing: 〃not half…past ten yet。 Sarah; go and see if the bridegroom has arrived。〃

Sarah returned with the reassuring tidings that the bridegroom had not yet arrived; though the carriages had。

〃Oh; thank Heaven; _he_ is not come;〃 said Julia。 〃If I keep him waiting to…day; he might say'Oho!'〃

Under dread of a comment so significant she was ready at last; and said majestically he might come now whenever he liked。

Meantime; down stairs an uneasiness of the opposite kind was growing。 Ten minutes past the appointed time; and the bridegroom not there。 So while Julia; now full dressed; and easy in her mind; was directing Sarah's sister to lay out her plain travelling dress; bonnet and gloves on the bed; Mrs。 Dodd was summoned downstairs。 She came down with Julia's white gloves in her hand; and a needle and thread; the button sewed on by trade's fair hand having flown at the first strain。 Edward met her on the stairs: 〃What had we better do; mother?〃 said he; _sotto voce:_ 〃there must be some mistake。 Can you remember? Wasn't he to call for me on the way to the church?〃

〃I really do not know;〃 said Mrs。 Dodd。 〃Is he at the church; do you think?〃

〃No; no; either he was to call for me here; or I for him。 I'll go to the church; though: it is only a step。〃

He ran off; and in a little more than five minutes came into the drawing…room。

〃No; he is not there。 I must go to his lodgings。 Confound him; he has got reading Aristotle; I suppose。〃

This passed before the whole party; Julia excepted。

Sampson looked at his watch; and said he could conduct the ladies to the church while Edward went for Alfred。 〃Division of labour;〃 said he gallantly; 〃and mine the delightful half。〃

Mrs。 Dodd demurred to the plan。 She was for waiting quietly in one place。

〃Well; but〃 said Edward; 〃we may overdo that; here it is a quarter…past eleven; and you know they can't be married after twelve。 No; I really think you had better all go with the doctor。 I dare say we shall be there as soon as you will。〃

This was agreed on after some discussion。 Edward; however; to provide against all contingencies; begged Sampson not to wait for him should Alfred reach the church by some other road: 〃I'm only groomsman; you know;〃 said he。 He ran off at a racing pace。 The bride was then summoned; admired; and handed into one carriage with her two bridesmaids; Miss Bosanquet and Miss Darton。 Sampson and Mrs。 Dodd went in the other; and by half…past eleven they were all safe in the church。

A good many people; high and low; were about the door and in the pews; waiting to see the beautiful Miss Dodd married to the son of a personage once so popular as Mr。 Hardie: it had even transpired that Mr。 Hardie disapproved the match。 They had been waiting a long time; and were beginning to wonder what was the matter; when; at last the bride's party walked up the aisle with a bright April sun shining on them through the broad old windows。 The bride's rare beauty; and stag…like carriage of her head; imperial in its loveliness and orange wreath; drew a hum of admiration。

The party stood a minute or two at the east end of the church; and then the clergyman came out and invited them into the vestry。

Their reappearance was eagerly expected; in silence at first; but presently in loud and multitudinous whispers。

At this moment a young lady; with almost perfect features and sylph…like figure; modestly dressed in dove…coloured silk; but with a new chip bonnet and white gloves; entered a pew near the west door; and said a little prayer; then proceeded up the aisle; and exchanged a word with the clerk; then into the vestry。

〃Cheep! cheep! cheep!〃 went fifty female tongues; and the arrival of the bridegroom's sister became public news。

The bride welcomed her in the vestry with a sweet guttural of surprise and delight; and they kis
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