his daughter, this was the first time for several weeks that they had met.  It could not but rankle in the father’s heart that, for the time being, he had no home to offer to his child.  He had been staying with his good friend James Harmer all this while, who had left his wife and family at Islington to regain their full health and strength, while he spent his time between the Bridge house and the cottage.  His business required his presence at home during a part of the week, since his shopmen and apprentices had already returned; but he would not permit his family to do so just yet, deeming it better for them to remain with his sister, and to enjoy with her a period of rest and refreshment which could never be theirs in the busy life of home.

A happy Christmas had thus been spent; and now it was the eve of Gertrude’s wedding day, which was the one following Christmas Day.  The Master Builder had spent the festival with his friends, and on the morrow would accompany his daughter and her husband to their home in the city, the Harmer family returning to their house at the same time, and bringing Mary with them on a visit after all her hospitality to them.

By nine o’clock the next morning, the quiet little wedding party was approaching the church, when to their surprise they beheld a fine coach, drawn by four horses, drawing up at the gate of the churchyard; and before Dorcas had more than time to exclaim, “Why, it is my Lady Scrope herself!” they saw that diminutive but remarkable old dame alighting from it, and walking nimbly up the path towards the porch.

“I never dreamed she would really come, albeit I did let her know the day according to promise—­or rather to her command,” said her handmaiden, hurrying after her as if by instinct.  The little figure in its sables and strangely-fashioned velvet bonnet turned at the sound of the quick footfall; and there stood the old lady scanning the whole party with her bead-like eyes, and giving little nods to this one and the other in response to their respectful reverences.

“A pretty pair! a pretty pair!” was her comment upon the bridal couple, who walked together, and who certainly looked very handsome and happy.  Reuben had regained strength and colour, though his face was thinner and finer in outline than it had been before his illness; and Gertrude had always been something of a beauty, and had greatly improved in looks during these weeks of happiness.

“Well, well, well!  I am always sorry for folks who are tying burdens round their own necks; but some can do it with a better grace than others.

“Now, child,” and she turned to Gertrude, and rapped her cane upon the ground, “don’t make a fool of yourself or your husband!  Don’t begin by thinking him the best man in the world; else he may turn out all too soon to be the worst.  Don’t let him trample upon you.  Hold your own with him.

“Pooh!  I might as well spare my words.  Poor fools, they are all alike at starting.  They only learn to sing to another tune when experience has taken them in hand for a while.  Well, well, well! ’tis a pretty sight after all.  I’ll say no more.  Give me your arm, good Master Harmer, and let me have a good view of the tying of this knot, so that there shall be no slipping out of it later.”