The Long Vacation

  Till the smooth temper of my age might be Like the high leaves upon the holly tree.--SOUTHEY.

  The neighbourhood said that nothing was ever done at Vale Lestonaccording to the conventionalities, and the Devereux wedding was aninstance.

  Lancelot had brought word that Bishop Norman May had actually arrivedfrom New Zealand for a half-year's visit, bringing with him the youngermissionary Leonard Ward, and that Dr. May's happiness was unspeakable."A renewed youth, if he needed to have it renewed."

  Clement and William Harewood went over to see them, and returned greatlyimpressed, and resolved on convoking the neighbourhood to be stirredin the cause of the Pacific islands. At the same time, one of the manyletters from Lady Rotherwood about arrangements ended with--"My husbandhopes you will be able to arrange for us to be introduced to yourconnections of the May family, the Bishop, Mr. Ward, and the good olddoctor of whom we have heard so much."

  "We must invite them all to the wedding," said Mrs. Harewood, who, asstill inhabiting the Priory, would be the hostess.

  "Certainly," returned William Harewood, "but I don't think Mr. Wardwould come. He looks like an ancient hermit."

  "The best way," said Mrs. Grinstead, "would be to finish up thewedding-day with a missionary garden-party."

  "Geraldine!" said Lady Vanderkist from her sofa, in feeble accents ofdismay; but Mrs. William Harewood hardly heard, and did not notice.

  "It would be the most admirable plan. It would give people something todo, and make a reason for having ever so many more."

  "Baits cleverly disposed," said William. "The S.P.G. to attract Ward,Ward to attract the Marquis, and the Marquis to attract the herd."

  "Everybody throngs to the extremest outskirts of a wedding," saidGeraldine.

  "They may have the presents on view in the long room," said Wilmet.

  "Provided they don't have the list of them printed," said Geraldine."Lance won't put them into the 'Pursuivant'; it is disgusting!"

  "So I have always thought," said Robina; "but you hardly make allowancesfor the old ladies who love to spell them out."

  "The Marquis of Rotherwood--a gold-topped dressing-case; Miss KerenHappuch Tripp--a pincushion," said Geraldine. "It is the idlest gossip,and should not be encouraged."

  "And," added Robina, "as we go out through the cloister there willhappily be no rice. Will has stopped it in the churchyard."

  "And fortunately we have no school-boys to reckon with, except Adrianand Fely, who will be quite amenable."

  For Kester Harewood was in India, and Edward on the Mediterranean;Adrian was at home, doing credit to Miss Mohun, and so vehementlycollecting stamps, that he was said to wish to banish all his friends tothe most remote corners of the earth to send them home.

  Francie's elder sisters declined being bridesmaids, so that Phyllis andMysie were the chief, and the three young sisters, Wilmet, Alda, andJoan, with two little Underwoods and two small Harewoods, all in whitefrocks and sashes, were to attend and make a half-circle round thebride.

  All took effect as had been purposed, each party being equally desirousthat it should be truly a Christian wedding, such as might be a fitemblem of the great Marriage Feast, and bring a blessing--joyous andhappy, yet avoiding the empty pomp and foolish mirth that might destroythe higher thoughts.

  How beautiful Vale Leston church looked, decked with white roses,lilies, and myrtle! The bride, tall and stately in her flowing veil andglistening satin train, had her own sweet individuality, not too closelyrecalling the former little bride. She came on her uncle Clement's arm,as most nearly representing a father to her, and the marriage blessingwas given by the majestic-looking Bishop, with the two chief localclergy, Mr. William Harewood and Mr. Charles Audley, taking part of theservice. It was a beautiful and impressive scene, and there was a greatpeace on all. It was good to see the intense bliss on Ivinghoe's faceas he led his bride down the aisle, and along the cloister; and as theycame into the drawing-room, after she had received an earnest kiss, and"my pretty one" from his father, it was to Dr. May that he first ledher. Dr. May, his figure still erect, his face bright and cheery, hisbrow entirely bare, and his soft white locks flowing over his collar.He held out his hands, "Ah, young things! You are come for the old man'sblessing! Truly you have it, my lady fair. You are fair indeed, as fairwithin as without. You have a great deal in the power of those littlehands, and you--oh yes, both of you, believe, that a true, faithful,loving, elevating wife is the blessing of all one's days, whether it beonly for a few years, or, as I trust and pray it may be with you, for along--long, good, and prosperous life together."

  The two young things bent their heads, and he blessed them with hisblessing of eighty years. Lord Rotherwood's eyes were full of tears, ashe said in a choked voice--

  "Thank you, sir," while Franceska murmured to Mysie--

  "I do like that he should have been the first to call me 'my lady.'"

  The luncheon included only the two families, and the actual assistantsat the wedding, and it was really very merry. Lady Rotherwood didinspire a little awe, but then Alda, sitting near, knew exactly how totalk to her, and Alda, who, like Geraldine, had dressed herself in softgreys and whites, with her delicate cheeks flushed with pleasure andtriumph, looked as beautiful as ever, and far outshone her twin, whosecomplexion and figure both had become those of the portly housewife.

  Meta, otherwise Mrs. Norman May, had eyes as bright and lively as ever,though face and form had both grown smaller, and she was more like afairy godmother than the Titania she had been in times of old. She hadgot into the middle of all the varieties of children, dragged thither byGertrude's Pearl and Audrey, and was making them happy.

  Ethel and Geraldine never could come to the end of what they had to sayto one another, except that Ethel could but be delighted to make herfriend know the brother of her early youth; and show her the grave,earnest-looking man who had suffered so much, and whose hair was aswhite as the doctor's, his face showing the sunburn of the tropics; andthe crow's-feet round his eyes, the sailor's habit of searching gaze. Hedid not speak much, but watched the merry young groups as if they were asort of comedy in his eyes.

  They were very merry, especially when the doctor had proposed the healthof the bride, and her brother, Sir Adrian, was called on to returnthanks for her.

  "Gentlemen and ladies," he said, "no, I mean ladies and gentlemen, I amvery much obliged to you all for the honour you have done my sister. Ican tell Lord Ivinghoe she is a very good girl, and very nice, and allthat, when she is not cocky, and doesn't try to keep one in order."

  The speech was drowned in laughter, and calls to Ivinghoe to mind whathe was about, and beware of the "new woman."

  So the young couple were seen off to spend their honeymoon in Scotland,and the rest of the party could pair off to enjoy their respectivefriends, except that Mary and Sophy had to exhibit the wedding presentsto all and sundry of the visitors of all degrees who began to flock in.

  Seats were ranged on the lawn, and when every one had had time to wonderat everything, from Lady Rotherwood's set of emeralds, down to thechoirboys' carved bracket, the house-bell was rung, and all had to taketheir places on the lawn, fairly shaded by house, cloister, and cedartree, and facing the conservatory, whose steps, with the terrace, formeda kind of platform. It is not needful to go through all, or how JohnHarewood, as host, explained that they had thought that it would bewell to allow their guests to have the advantage of hearing theirdistinguished visitors tell of their experiences. And so they did,the Bishop pleading the cause of missions with his wonderful nativeeloquence, as he stood by the chair where his father sat listening tohim, as to a strain of sweet music long out of reach. Then Leonard Wardsimply and bluntly told facts about the Pacific islands and islanders,that set hearts throbbing, and impelled more than one young heart tolong to tread in the like course.

  Then Lord Rotherwood thanked and bungled as usual, so that GustaveTanneguy would have a hard matter to reduce what he called the"aristocratic t
ongue" to plain English, or rather reporter's English.The listeners were refreshed with tea, coffee, and lemonade, and therewas a final service in the church, which many gladly attended, and thusended what had been a true holiday.

  CHAPTER XXXIV. -- RIGHTED

  Perhaps the cup was broken here, That Heaven's new wine might show more clear. E. B. BROWNING.