Preparations for the much-talked-of marriage are pushed on rapidly;
and before the spring flowers are making the slopes of Hayes Hill glad
with their brightness, the wedding--a very quiet one--takes place.
Laura Best is not present, though everybody says how charmingly she
has acted towards Katie. She called on the bride-elect, and on the
wedding morning a short perfumy note of congratulation and a handsome
set of opals arrive as a marriage gift. Sir Herbert is pleased at his
daughter's attentions to his bride, and is glad that after all such a
friendly feeling has sprung up between them.
The fact is, Laura Best, finding that opposition cannot prevent the
marriage, has decided to give it her apparent sanction. Not for worlds
would she interfere with the happiness of the wedded pair or throw
unpleasantness on their path. So she quietly does all that is needful
in the way of proper attention, and then goes home to Hayes Hill to her
children and duties there. Yet in secret she bears a heavy heart with
her, and mourns over her father's infatuation.
If the Admiral's wedding has been a quiet one, the home-coming is
destined to be quite the reverse. The whole town of Seabright wakes up,
and great preparations are made to welcome the pair. The ships in the
bay are illuminated, flags flutter in the breeze, and bells peal out
their jubilant chimes.
Katie smiles proudly to herself as she walks through the lofty
apartments of Government House, and feels she is mistress there now.
It is pleasant to roam about everywhere, and know that she has the
right to do so; pleasant also to stand in the shade of the deep window,
and listen to the joyous pealing of the bells, which she knows are
pealing for her. Wealth and rank are in her grasp; she has entered on
the honours of her new position, and will rule with no timid hand.
Self-confident and fearless, she laughs to herself in utter exultation
at the warnings, the croakings, the forebodings that a while ago
assailed her. Walter Reeves is very angry indeed, when he finds out
how unceremoniously he has been set aside; and he is intensely bitter
against Katie in the first flush of his disappointment; so doubtless
it is fortunate for all concerned that his ship, the _Leo_, is ordered
off on a cruise in the Mediterranean. He will be away for nearly twelve
months, and surely in that time the most poignant heart-wound may be
healed. Besides, change of scene is all-potent in such cases!
As months pass away, Lady Dillworth's tastes rapidly expand and assert
themselves; ere long she becomes the leader of society in Seabright,
and the most fashionably dressed woman there. Sir Herbert is generous
beyond measure; Katie must not have a wish ungratified, or a desire
unfulfilled if he can help it. And so the young wife, loving admiration
and homage with a wild passion, basks in them to her heart's content.
The semi-official parties at Government House, stately and dignified
as they were, rapidly give place to balls and quadrille assemblies,
to late hours and overcrowded rooms. The junior officers of the
ships rejoice at the change; while the older ones shake their heads
ominously, and gradually withdraw themselves from excitements that have
no longer any charms for them.
Lady Dillworth is the belle on all occasions. Whether she entertains
the company with her rich voice as she sings for them, or delights them
with her sparkling conversation, or whirls with some favoured ones
through waltz or galop, she is ever the attraction of the evening.
If the Admiral sometimes thinks there is rather too much gaiety, and
longs to have Katie now and then all to himself, he does not say so,
for he cannot bear to deprive her of any enjoyment on which her heart
is set. Often and often during the season, at Katie's old home, sounds
of the rattle of carriages come up to the cosy drawing-room, and the
lamps flash for a moment on the blinds.
'There they go--another party at Government House, I suppose!' Mr Grey
will say, as he quietly looks up from his books.
'Yes, my dear; Katie is giving a ball to-night, and such a magnificent
dress she has got for it! Sir Herbert grudges her nothing.'
'So much the worse for Katie. Spending is an art easily learned; and
where in the world _she_ gained her education on that point, I am
puzzled to know. Not from you, Sarah; you were always economical.'
'Katie's position is different from ours, dear; she must keep it up.'
'But she has no need to keep up such an endless whirl. I wonder the
Admiral is not tired to death of it. _I_ should be, I know.'
And so, all through the quiet night, husband and wife are roused every
now and then from their slumbers by the rattle of passing wheels; and
Mrs Grey sighs to herself about Katie's love for excitement, but will
not blame her aloud, even to her husband's ears.