THE COACHMAN (_to his horse_). _Kim_ up, then!
THE HORSE (_to itself_). Deuce of a time these people are. Why don't
they hurry. I want to be off. I'm certain we shall miss that train.
THE BEST MAN (_to crowd of perfect strangers, with whom in some
mysterious way he has managed to strike up a warm friendship_). Now,
then, you men, stand by. Wait till they come out, then blaze away.
Good handful first shot. That's what you want.
THE COOK (_in the area, to_ JANE). Oh, I do 'ope they won't miss that
train, don't you? Oh, here they come. Oh, don't Miss Phyllis--Mrs.
Garnet--look--well, there. And I can remember her a little slip of a
girl only so high, and she used to come to my kitchen, and she used to
say, "Mrs. Minchley," she used to say--it seems only yesterday--"Mrs.
Minchley, I want--"
[_Left reminiscing._
THE BRIDE (_as the page boy's gloomy eye catches hers, "smiles as she
was wont to smile_").
MASTER RIGGETTS (_with a happy recollection of his latest-read work of
fiction--"Sir Rupert of the Hall": Meadowsweet Library--to himself_).
"Good-by, proud lady. Fare you well. And may you never regret.
May--you--nevorrr--regret!"
[_Dives passionately into larder, and consoles himself with jam._
THE BEST MAN (_to his gang of bravoes_). Now, then, you men, bang it
in.
[_They bang it in._
THE BRIDEGROOM (_retrieving his hat_). Oh-- [_Recollects himself in
time._
THE BEST MAN. Oh, shot, sir! Shot, indeed!
[_The_ BRIDE _and_ BRIDEGROOM _enter the carriage amid a storm of
rice._
THE BEST MAN (_coming to carriage window_). Garny, old horse.
THE BRIDEGROOM. Well?
THE BEST MAN. Just a moment. Look here, I've got a new idea. The best
ever, 'pon my word it is. I'm going to start a duck farm and run it
without water. What? You'll miss your train? Oh, no, you won't.
There's plenty of time. My theory is, you see, that ducks get thin by
taking exercise and swimming about and so on, don't you know, so that,
if you kept them on land always, they'd get jolly fat in about half
the time--and no trouble and expense. See? What? You bring the missus
down there. I'll write you the address. Good-by. Bless you. Good-by,
Mrs. Garnet.
THE BRIDE AND BRIDEGROOM (_simultaneously, with a smile apiece_).
Good-by.
[_They catch the train and live happily ever afterwards._]
* * * * *