She was reserved upon the question of the hospitality of Lekkatts.  The place had entertained her during her necessitated residence there, and honour forbade her to smile concordantly at the rosy admiral’s mention of Leancats.  She took occasion, however, to praise the Earl of Fleetwood’s eminently provident considerateness for his bride, inasmuch as he had packed a hamper in his vehicle, which was a four-in-hand, driven by himself.

Admiral Baldwin inquired:  ‘Bride inside?’

He was informed:  ’The Countess of Fleetwood sat on the box on the left of my lord.’

She had made no moan about the absence of bridesmaids.

’She appeared too profoundly happy to meditate an instant upon deficiencies.’

‘How did the bridegroom behave?’

’Lord Fleetwood was very methodical.  He is not, or was not, voluntarily a talker.’

‘Blue coat, brass buttons, hot-house flower? old style or new?’

’His lordship wore a rather low beaver and a buttoned white overcoat, not out of harmony with the bride’s plain travelling-dress.’

’Ah! he’s a good whip, men say.  Keeps first-rate stables, hacks, and bloods.  Esslemont hard by will be the place for their honeymoon, I guess.  And he’s a lucky dog, if he knows his luck.’

So said Admiral Baldwin.  He was proceeding to say more, for he had a prodigious opinion of the young countess and the benefit of her marriage to the British race.  As it concerned a healthy constitution and motherhood, Mrs. Carthew coughed and retired.  Nor do I reprove either of them.  The speculation and the decorum are equally commendable.  Masculine ideas are one thing; but let feminine ever be feminine, or our civilization perishes.

At Croridge village church, then, one of the smallest churches in the kingdom, the ceremony was performed and duly witnessed, names written in the vestry book, the clergyman’s fee, the clerk, and the pew-woman, paid by the bridegroom.  And thus we see how a pair of lovers, blind with the one object of lovers in view; and a miserly uncle, all on edge to save himself the expense of supporting his niece; and an idolatrous old admiral, on his back with gout; conduced in turn and together to the marriage gradually exciting the world’s wonder, till it eclipsed the story of the Old Buccaneer and Countess Fanny, which it caused to be discussed afresh.

Mrs. Carthew remembered Carinthia Jane’s last maiden remark and her first bridal utterance.  On the way, walking to the church of Croridge from Lekkatts, the girl said:  ’Going on my feet, I feel I continue the mountain walk with my brother when we left our home.’  And after leaving the church, about to mount the coach, she turned to Mrs. Carthew, saying, as she embraced her: 

‘A happy bride’s kiss should bring some good fortune.’  And looking down from her place on the top of the coach: