*CHAPTER XXVIII.*
*LILIES AND A WEDDING.*
"There's no peace or harmony in the presence of some people," said LadyDove after dinner to the famous genius. Her eyes involuntarily turnedtowards Toney, who was talking in low tones to Sir Evas. "Now, withJeanie Hamilton you are sure of proper dignity."
Frank bowed and smiled, nothing could ruffle him now. He had sent off aletter to Jeanie, and a second diamond ring and a few other tokens, ashe did not wish to go to Waycott Hall himself. Mrs. Hamilton's companyrecalled his past suffering too much. Toney, on the other hand, wasassociated only with his joy and gratitude.
As if to prove Lady Dove right, a hooting, tooting motor was heardapproaching, and Toney started up.
"It's Dr. Mayo," she said, looking at Mr. Weston.
"Dr. Mayo!" he exclaimed, "coming here?"
"Yes, for your wedding! He plays to-morrow morning. It's onlyfitting."
Frank Weston's eyes beamed.
"You are a magician!" he said, "he wouldn't do it for royalty!" and hehurried out to greet his friend.
"Oh, I wish I could hear all they hear in music," sighed Toney.
"Your ears are sharp enough, anyhow, Toney," said Sir Evas. "By theway, what's the matter with you this evening? You are pale--mostunusual!"
"Nothing--but a bit anxious about this wedding. There's many a slip,isn't there, uncle?"
"Humph, you've got the man and the woman; not much chance of slipping.You're going too fast, Toney, that's what it is."
Toney laughed.
"Gracious stars! Fast! I'd like to go faster. Stone House will keep usbusy, uncle, won't it, and--have you thought about the lions and whatyou'll say? You mean biz, don't you?"
"I shall have to deviate a bit from the path of truth, Toney, but I'llmanage it. Melina, I must go to town to-morrow and--sleep there, onbusiness."
"On Antonia's business, I suppose?" said Lady Cove tartly.
"No, oh no--forgot a few things I had to say to Lewis Waycott, who's offafter lions. I'll return early on Friday."
"I hope you will, there are plenty of neglected things on your _own_estate, Evas, but of course----="
Happily the two great musicians came in together, and Lady Doverecognising that she would be envied by the musical portion of thecounty, turned on a smile of welcome, whilst Mr. Russell hastened tomake himself agreeable, but in reality Lady Dove felt angry becauseToney was the centre of attraction this evening.
"I should never have dared to suggest it," murmured Frank Weston to hisfriend.
"Nonsense! Why didn't you? Miss Whitburn said it was my duty, and ofcourse my pleasure, and that your wedding could not take place withoutme----"
Everybody laughed.
"In a sort of way it was Jeanie who suggested it to me," said Toney. "Ithought our organist would do, but she looked so reproachfully at me,and said, 'I don't want any music, thank you--short of Dr. Mayo--Frankwould run away if he heard our organist!'"
"Do you always get what you want, Miss Whitburn?" said Dr. Mayo.
Poor Toney turned pale but no one noticed this.
"I like other people to have what they like, and I sort of try to get itfor them, that's all."
"Ask Weston to sing, Miss Whitburn, and I will accompany him. Weston'svoice is something out of the common, but he has refused to sing forsome years."
"Do," said Toney, "I think I like singing best, especially when you canhear the words."
Then followed a rare musical treat, till Toney, saying she was verysleepy, excused herself and went to bed.
She paced her small room like a lion in a cage; she felt she must rushup to town to-morrow and call at the hotel, so as just to see him oncemore, but then she argued this would be wrong knowing what she did know!Perhaps--such things did happen--she might meet him in the streets.That wouldn't be wrong, because she could not help that. Was it wrong towish it? Anyhow, she couldn't help it. She must turn for comfort towork, work and prayer; and yet neither of these two words seemed to beable to stop the pain. But they must; she, too, would fight with alion.
She opened her "Little Flowers of St. Francis" to try and find somebalm, and her eyes lighted on these words:--
"There came unto him (St. Francis) a youth, noble and tender, and saidunto him, 'Father, right willingly would I become one of your brothers.'Replied St. Francis, 'My son, thou art a youth, tender and noble, it maywell be that thou couldest not endure our hardships and our poverty.'And quoth he, 'Father, are ye not men even as I? Wherefore, as yeendure, even so shall I be able with the grace of Jesus Christ.'"
And Toney seemed to be comforted by these words, "As ye endure." Thatwas it, to endure nobly, that meant she must not be beaten by her pain.Ah, she too would endure as did that young noble. Of course, endurancewas easy when everything went right, but the only thing worth a rag wasto endure when everything went wrong! And Toney looked this greatsorrow in the face and made up her mind, oh, if it were possible--and itwas possible--to endure _cheerfully_. Then, knowing she must be upearly, she went to bed and fell asleep.
She awoke to the sound of marriage bells through the open windows; forone moment her face was all joy, then suddenly the pain returned. Shedressed very quickly in a plain white serge dress, and then ran out tofind the motor. Jim was ready with it. He looked beaming.
"I want to see if the church is properly beautiful. When you getmarried, Jim, I'll do the same for you. When is it to be?"
"We're in no hurry, Miss Tonia, there's time enough."
Toney laughed, Jim did not feel as did Frank Weston evidently.
At the church there were busy helpers, and several men from London.Large hampers of lilies were being unpacked.
Next, Toney motored to Waycott Hall and interviewed Maud, and then wenthome to early breakfast. Jim and the motor were to be kept busy.
The actual wedding was simple in the extreme. Only the Waycott Hallparty, Miss Waycott, Mrs. Hamilton and Maud; and from Aldersfield, SirEvas, Toney, the bridegroom, and Dr. Mayo. As the party entered he wasalready playing divine music, but the church was full of poor people andof white lilies. Never had the little old building looked so beautiful;Jeanie paused at the entrance.
"Oh! This is the most beautiful sight I have ever seen!" she whisperedto Frank.
Mrs. Hamilton looked at Toney and then at her sister.
"Honoria, what extravagance, but how beautiful!"
"It's Toney all over," said Miss Honoria.
As to Frank Weston, he thought, "This is as it should be, no fuss, onlypoor people and flowers and heavenly music."
There were no jovial young men fussing and talking, no hustling, nodisgraceful pushing, no whispered conversations. To the poor it wasnearly as good as a funeral as they listened to Mr. Hales' strong manlyvoice, and saw his face full of mystic joy.
If Jeanie Hamilton had wanted any more reforming she had it then. Howcould pride exist in this sanctuary of beauty? She looked like a lilyherself in a white afternoon dress, not a ball dress to be minutelydescribed in the newspapers, Jeanie, belonging to one of the oldestfamilies in the county, was marrying a self-made man, but as she lookedup at his strong face, full of manly joy, she knew that she, not he, hadthe best of the bargain! She was only proud now of belonging to him.
Mrs. Hamilton was touched by the beauty and the originality. There wasno vulgarity to hurt her pride, and she forgave Maud's first words inthe vestry,
"Oh dearest Jeanie, you are a lucky woman. Toney, it was quite, quiteperfect."
"You shall have the same, Maud, when you marry," answered Toney smiling.
Maud laughed and looked guilty. How pretty she appeared in her whitedress, looking not unlike a bride herself.
The poor people remained seated till the pair came out together, butToney stayed behind with a little army of helpers. All the lilies wereto be tied in bunches, and each poor person in the church was to takehome a bunch. Toney therefore miss
ed seeing an uninvited guest at thechurch door, who shook hands cordially with the wedding party.
"Forgive me, Mrs. Weston, I was not invited, but I heard a whisper ofyour original wedding and----"
Jeanie smiled.
"It's Miss Whitburn's idea. Could anything be more beautiful?"
He was by Maud's side now and he said quite gravely,
"I took note of everything, Miss Hamilton."
"Oh," said Maud smiling, "it would not do for _your_ tastes. HanoverSquare and a rowdy audience!"
"Indeed you are unjust. This is the first wedding I have enjoyed----"
Mrs. Hamilton was smiling, but, thinking Edward Lang wanted to make upto Toney, she did not invite him to the breakfast. Only Maud lingered aminute to say something, and then the poor people came trooping out, andwhen Toney reappeared she was too busy talking to them to see anythingelse.
The breakfast at Waycott Hall was a great trial to Toney, but she foughtagainst this lion and no one found out she was in a battle. Dr. Mayoacted as best man, and his speech was short but to the point.
"The bridegroom being a friend of long standing, I rise to drink hishealth. The bride I have only seen to-day, but I congratulate her fromthe bottom of my heart. To be the wife of Frank Weston means to be thewife of a genius--that is nothing, he was born a genius, he couldn'thelp himself--but it also means to be the wife of a man who, having agrand profession, has always ennobled it, and who has never, by thought,word, or deed, lowered the high standard he set before himself, and Ithink Mr. and Mrs. Weston are wise to go at once to Germany, so as toavoid such demonstration from the musical world here as might beoverpowering."
The bridegroom's speech was also very short.
"I thank my friend for his words, because I think he believes them!--butI rise to drink the health of Miss Whitburn. I believe she does notlike titles, so when we think of all she has accomplished, we mentallysay 'Toney'---- Round this word centres the gratitude of two personswho can never forget her. I am further asked by Mr. Lewis Waycott, tosay how much he regrets not being amongst us, but his plans could not bealtered. He has ordered that all the cottagers on his estate are tohave a good dinner--he wishes us to accept that as his wedding present.For my part he could not have offered me anything I appreciate more."
Toney felt her throat tighten again. Lewis had thought of the nicestthing possible--if only he had been there himself! Maud was looking sohappy, but then she, of course, knew he was happy, and knew he could notchange.
Now Miss Honoria had something to say.
"I am very sorry that my nephew is not here in person, but he thought ofeverybody before his departure, and he begged me to say that as all thewedding arrangements were due to Miss Whitburn, he had asked all histenants to remember her when they enjoyed their dinner."
Toney actually blushed, and Sir Evas, who was sitting beside her, nudgedher.
"Come, Toney, say something. Don't say you're shy! Nobody wouldbelieve that!"
Toney laughed and stood up.
"It's all a mistake. I'm just doing nothing but please myself awfullywhen I plan a romance, so there is no credit at all but---- Graciousstars! I can't spout any more."
There was a burst of laughter and the wedding ended in merriment.Toney's one comfort was, "He did think of me anyhow." As they preparedto get ready for going away, she went up to Maud, his Maud.
"Maud, you do look sweet! I want to kiss you. It will do me good."
It was so unlike Toney that Maud laughed.
"I want to hug you, dear Toney, it will do me good! I am so happy."
Jeanie's thanks were simple.
"Toney, Frank says he'll always come when you want him--for a privateconcert or anything, and so will I."
"How charming of you both, but I don't think there is another romancefor me to undertake except Maud's."
"Oh, Maud--must wait," said her sister.
"Yes, of course. Well, now we're going to see you off in grand style."