Frank could eat no breakfast, and he shunned publicity in his wedding-garments, so they remained in the upstairs sitting-room.  He stood by the window, drumming his fingers upon the pane, and looking down into Northumberland Avenue.  He had often pictured this day, and associated it with sunshine and flowers and every emblem of joy.  But Nature had not risen to the occasion.  A thick vapour, half smoke half cloud, drifted along the street, and a thin persistent rain was falling steadily.  It pit-patted upon the windows, splashed upon the sills, and gurgled in the water-pipes.  Far down beneath him on the drab-coloured slimy road stood the lines of wet cabs, looking like beetles with glistening backs.  Round black umbrellas hurried along the shining pavements.  A horse had fallen at the door of the Constitutional Club, and an oil-skinned policeman was helping the cabman to raise it.  Frank watched it until the harness had been refastened, and it had vanished into Trafalgar Square.  Then he turned and examined himself in the mirror.  His trim black frock-coat and pearl grey trousers set off his alert athletic figure to advantage.  His glossy hat, too, his lavender gloves, and dark-blue tie, were all absolutely irreproachable.  And yet he was not satisfied with himself.  Maude ought to have something better than that.  What a fool he had been to take so much wine last night!  On this day of all days in their lives she surely had a right to find him at his best.  He was restless, and his nerves were all quivering.  He would have given anything for a cigarette, but he did not wish to scent himself with tobacco.  He had cut himself in shaving, and his nose was peeling from a hot day on the cricket-field.  What a silly thing to expose his nose to the sun before his wedding!  Perhaps when Maude saw it she would—­well, she could hardly break it off, but at least she might be ashamed of him.  He worked himself into a fever over that unfortunate nose.

‘You are off colour, Crosse,’ said his best man.

’I was just thinking that my nose was.  It’s very kind of you to come and stand by me.’

‘That’s all right.  We shall see it through together.’

Hale was a despondent man, though the most loyal of friends, and he spoke in a despondent way.  His gloomy manner, the London drizzle, and the nervousness proper to the occasion, were all combining to make Frank more and more wretched.  Fortunately Jack Selby burst like a gleam of sunshine into the room.  The sight of his fresh-coloured smiling face—­or it may have been some reminder of Maude which he found in it—­brought consolation to the bridegroom.

’How are you, Crosse?  How do, Hale?  Excuse my country manners!  The old Christmas-tree in the hall wanted to send for you, but I knew your number.  You’re looking rather green about the gills, old chap.’

‘I feel a little chippy to-day.’

’That’s the worst of these cheap champagnes.  Late hours are bad for the young.  Have a whisky and soda with me.  No?  Hale, you must buck him up, for they’ll all be down on you if you don’t bring your man up to time in the pink of condition.  We certainly did ourselves up to the top hole last night.  Couldn’t face your breakfast, eh?  Neither could I. A strawberry and a bucket of soda-water.’