seeing that he had been present at every wedding in the county for the last twenty years.  The elderly ladies laughed good-humoredly, and Mrs. Crabtree was heard to say that the whole affair would have been very tame but that Mr. Crabtree had “carried it all off.”  But, in truth, when Joe got up the fun of the day had commenced, for Miss Thoroughbung, though she kept her chair, was able to utter as many words as her nephew:  “I’m sure I’m very much obliged to you for what you’ve all been saying.”

“So you ought, sir, for you have heard more good of yourself than you’ll ever hear again.”

“Then I’m the more obliged to you.  What my people have said about my being so long upon the road—­”

“That’s only just what you have told them at the brewery.  Nobody knows where you have been.”

“Molly can tell you all about that.”

“I can’t tell them anything,” Molly said in a whisper.

“But it comes only once in a man’s lifetime,” continued Joe; “and I dare say, if we knew all about the governor when he was of my age, which I don’t remember, he was as spooney as any one.”

“I only saw him once for six months before he was married,” said Mrs. Thoroughbung in a funereal voice.

“He’s made up for it since,” said Miss Thoroughbung.

“I’m sure I’m very proud to have got such a young lady to have come and joined her lot with mine,” continued Joe; “and nobody can think more about his wife’s family than I do.”

“And all Buston,” said the aunt.

“Yes, and all Buston.”

“I’m sure we’re all sorry that the bride’s uncle, from Buston Hall, has not been able to come here to-day.  You ought to say that, Joe.”

“Yes, I do say it.  I’m very sorry that Mr. Prosper isn’t able to be here.”

“Perhaps Miss Thoroughbung can tell us something about him?” said Mr. Crabtree.

“Me!  I know nothing special.  When I saw him last he was in good health.  I did nothing to him to make him keep his bed.  Mrs. Crabtree seems to think that I have got your uncle in my keeping.  Molly, I beg to say that I’m not responsible.”

It must be allowed that amid such free conversation it was difficult for Joe to shine as an orator.  But as he had no such ambition, perhaps the interruptions only served him.  But Miss Thoroughbung’s witticism did throw a certain damp over the wedding-breakfast.  It was perhaps to have been expected that the lady should take her revenge for the injury done to her.  It was the only revenge that she did take.  She had been ill-used, she thought, and yet she had not put Mr. Prosper to a shilling of expense.  And there was present to her a feeling that the uncle had at the last moment been debarred from complying with her small requests in favor of Miss Tickle and the ponies on behalf of the young man who was now sitting opposite to her, and that the good things coming from Buston Hall were to be made to flow in the way of