Manor, together with all the villagers and the school-children were entertained at an open-air festival and dance, which lasted all the afternoon and evening, on the broad smooth greensward encircling the famous ‘Five Sister’ beeches where bride and bridegroom had looked upon each other for the first time.  What a high tide of simple revelry it was to be sure!  Never had the delicate tremulous green foliage of the rescued trees waved over a happier scene.  ’Many a kiss both odd and even’ was exchanged among lads and lasses at that blithe merry-making,—­even Cicely and Julian Adderley were not always to be found when they were wanted, having taken to ’composing music and poetry together,’ which no doubt quite accounted for their long rambles together away from all the rest of the merry crowd.  Mrs. Spruce, with a circle of her gossips round her, sat talking the whole livelong day on the ‘ways o’ the Lord bein’ past findin’ out.’

“For,” said she, “when Miss Maryllia first come ’ome she ’adn’t an idee o’ goin’ to hear Passon Walden, an’ sez I ‘do-ee go an’ hear ‘im,’ an’ she sez—­’No, Spruce, I cannot, I don’t believe in it’—­ an’ I sez to myself, ’never mind, the Lord ’e knows ’is own, which He do, but ‘ard as are His ways I never did think He’d a’ brought her to be Passon’s wife,—­that do beat me, though it’s just what it should be, an’ if the Lord don’t know what should be why then no one don’t, an’ that ‘minds me o’ when I sent for Passon to see me unpack Miss Maryllia’s boxes, he was that careful he made me pick up a pair o’ pink shoes what ‘ad fell on the floor—­’Take care o’ them,’ he sez—­Lor!—­now I come to think of it, he was mortal struck over them pink shoes!”

And Bainton commenting on general events observed:—­

“Well, I did say once that if Passon were married he’d be a fine man spoilt, but I’ve altered my mind now!  I think he’s a fine man full growed at last, like a plant what’s stopped a bit an’ suddenly takes a start an’ begins to flower.  An’ so far as my own line goes, if Missis Walden, bless ‘er, comes round me talkin’ about the rectory garden, which is to be kep’ up just the same as ever, an’ fusses like over the lilac bush what he broke a piece off of for her, well!—­I did say I’d never ’ave a petticut round my work—­but a pretty petticut’s worth looking at, it is reely now!”

So the harmless chatter among the village folks went on, and the feasting, dancing and singing lasted long.  Chief of important personages among all that gathered under the old beech-trees was Josey Letherbarrow,—­very feeble,—­very dim of eye, but stout of heart and firm of opinion as ever.  Beside him sat Bishop Brent,—­ with Walden himself and his bride,—­for from his venerable hands Maryllia had sought the first blessing on her marriage as soon as the wedding ceremony had ended.