“Pewter!” cried Rosa.  “No such thing!  It’s nickel.  What is nickel, I wonder?”

The handwriting afforded no clew, so there the discussion ended:  but it was a nice little mystery, and very convenient; made conversation.  Rosa had many an animated discussion about it with her female friends.

The wedding-day came at last.  The sun shone—­actually, as Rosa observed.  The carriages drove up.  The bridesmaids, principally old schoolfellows and impassioned correspondents of Rosa, were pretty, and dressed alike and delightfully; but the bride was peerless; her Southern beauty literally shone in that white satin dress and veil, and her head was regal with the Crown of orange-blossoms.  Another crown she had—­true virgin modesty.  A low murmur burst from the men the moment they saw her; the old women forgave her beauty on the spot, and the young women almost pardoned it; she was so sweet and womanly, and so sisterly to her own sex.

When they started for the church she began to tremble, she scarce knew why; and when the solemn words were said, and the ring was put on her finger, she cried a little, and looked half imploringly at her bridesmaids once, as if seared at leaving them for an untried and mysterious life with no woman near.

They were married.  Then came the breakfast, that hour of uneasiness and blushing to such a bride as this; but at last she was released.  She sped up-stairs, thanking goodness it was over.  Down came her last box.  The bride followed in a plain travelling dress, which her glorious eyes and brows and her rich glowing cheeks seemed to illumine:  she was handed into the carriage, the bridegroom followed.  All the young guests clustered about the door, armed with white shoes—­slippers are gone by.

They started; the ladies flung their white shoes right and left with religious impartiality, except that not one of their missiles went at the object.  The men, more skilful, sent a shower on to the roof of the carriage, which is the lucky spot.  The bride kissed her hand, and managed to put off crying, though it cost her a struggle.  The party hurrahed; enthusiastic youths gathered fallen shoes, and ran and hurled them again with cheerful yells, and away went the happy pair, the bride leaning sweetly and confidingly with both her white hands on the bridegroom’s shoulder, while he dried the tears that would run now at leaving home and parent forever, and kissed her often, and encircled her with his strong arm, and murmured comfort, and love, and pride, and joy, and sweet vows of lifelong tenderness into her ears, that soon stole nearer his lips to hear, and the fair cheek grew softly to his shoulder.

CHAPTER VI.

Dr. Staines and Mrs. Staines visited France, Switzerland, and the Rhine, and passed a month of Elysium before they came to London to face their real destiny and fight the battle of life.