The views which had hitherto been taken at Babington of the bride’s future life had been somewhat loftier than this.  The bands and the surplice and the port wine seemed to be small after all that had been said.  The mother felt that she was in some degree rebuked,—­not having yet learned that nothing will so much lessen the enthusiasm one may feel for the work of a barrister, or a member of Parliament, or a clergyman, as a little domestic conversation with the wife of the one or the other.  But Mrs. Munday was a lady possessing much clerical authority, and that which she said had to be endured with equanimity.

Mr. Smirkie seemed to enjoy the occasion, and held his own through the day with much dignity, The archdeacon, and the clergyman of the parish, and Mr. Bromley, all assisted, and nothing was wanting of outward ceremony which a small country church could supply.  When his health was drunk at the breakfast he preached quite a little sermon as he returned thanks, holding his bride’s hands in his the while, performing his part in the scene in a manner which no one else would have dared to attempt.

Then there was the parting between the mother and daughter, upstairs, before she was taken away for her ten days’ wedding-tour to Brighton.  ’My darling;—­it is not so far but that I can come and see you very often.’

‘Pray do, mamma.’

‘And I think I can help you with the children.’

’I am not a bit afraid of them, mamma.  I intend to have my way with them, and that will be everything.  I don’t mean to be weak.  Of course Augustus will do what he thinks best in the parish, but he quite understands that I am to be mistress at home.  As for Mrs. Munday, mamma, I don’t suppose that she knows everything.  I believe I can manage quite as well as Mrs. Munday.’

Then there was a parting joint congratulation that she had not yielded to the allurements of her cousin, John Caldigate.  ’Oh, no, mamma; that would never have done.’

‘Think where you might have been now!’

’I am sure I should have found out his character in time and have broken from him, let it have cost what it might.  A man that can do such things as that is to me quite horrible.  What is to become of her, and her baby;—­and, perhaps, two,’ she added in a whisper, holding up her hands and shaking her head.  The ceremony through which she had just passed had given her courage to hint at such a possibility.  ’I suppose she’ll have to be called Miss Bolton again.’  Of course there was some well-founded triumph in the bosom of the undoubted Mrs. Augustus Smirkie as she remembered what her own fate might have been.  Then she was carried away in the family carriage amidst a deluge of rice and a shower of old shoes.

That same night Mr. Bromley gave an account of the wedding to John Caldigate at Folking, telling him how well all the personages had performed their parts.  ‘Poor Julia! she at any rate will be safe.’