Mrs. Hatton’s splendid health set off her splendid beauty, fine carriage, and sumptuous gown of silver-gray brocaded satin, emphasized by sapphires of great luster and value.

“I hevn’t worn them since father died, thou knowest,” she had said to John the day before the wedding, as she stood before him with the gems in her hands, “but tomorrow he will expect me to wear them both for his sake and thine, thou dear, dear lad!” And she looked up at her son and down at the jewels and her eyes were dim with tears.  Presently she continued, “Jane was here this afternoon.  I dare say thou art going to the train with her tonight, and may be she will tell thee what she is going to wear.  She didn’t offer to tell me, and I wouldn’t ask her—­not I!”

“What for?”

“I thought she happen might be a bit superstitious about talking of her wedding fineries.  You can talk the luck out of anything, you know, John.”

“Nay, nay, mother!”

“To be sure, you can. Why-a! Your father never spoke of any business he wanted to come to a surety, and if I asked him about an offer or a contract he would answer, ’Be quiet, Martha, dost ta want to talk it to death?’”

“I will keep mind of that, mother.”

“Happen it will be worth thy while to do so.”

“Father was a shrewd man.”

“Well, then, he left one son able to best him if so inclined.”

“You will look most handsome, mother.  I shall be proud of you.  There will be none like you at the London house.”

“I think that is likely, John.  Jane’s mother will look middling well, but I shall be a bit beyond her.  She showed me her gown, and her pearls.  They were not bad, but they might hev been better—­so they might!”

It was thus John Hatton’s marriage came off.  There was a dull, chill service in St. Margaret’s, every word of which was sacred to John, a gay wedding-breakfast, and a laughing crowd from whom the bride and bridegroom stole away, reaching their own home late in the afternoon.  They were as quiet there as if they had gone into a wilderness.  Mrs. Hatton remained in London for two weeks, with an old school companion, and Mrs. Harlow was hospitably entertained by Lord and Lady Harlow, who thoroughly respected her successful efforts to turn Harlow House into more than a respectable living.

Perhaps she was a little proud of her work, and a little tiresome in explaining her methods, but that was a transient trial to be easily looked over, seeing that its infliction was limited to a short period.  On the whole she was praised and pleased, and she told Mrs. Hatton when they met again, that it was the first time her noble brother-in-law had ever treated her with kindness and respect.