OFF FOR THE HONEY-MOON.
"Welcome the coming, speed the parting, guest." Therefore shall our last
chapter be short.
In the autumn of the following year a quiet wedding-party assembled
after church in Aunt Leth's house. To be exact, it was a double
wedding-party--Phoebe and Fred, Fanny and Dick. It was a gathering of
friends, some of whom have played their parts in this story, and whom, I
hope, we have grown to love. The Lethbridge family, of course--I cannot
stop to relate the wonderful day-dream Uncle Leth had on that
morning--and Mr. and Mrs. Linton and Kiss, and 'Melia Jane and Tom
Barley; those were the principal ones. There were also connections of
Fred Cornwall and Dick Garden, all amiable, pleasant persons, if one
could judge from their faces. Tom Barley had just whispered something to
'Melia Jane, and her answer was,
"Lor', Tom; I'm ashamed to think of it!"
"Then you won't," whispered Tom.
"Yes, I will," replied 'Melia Jane, very quickly. "It was the way the
fortune came out last night. But to think of it, Tom! to think of it!"
And to the surprise of all, not one of whom had heard a word of what had
passed, 'Melia Jane threw her apron over her head, where it hung down
like a bridal veil. She had put on the apron when she came from the
church into the house, to wait upon the company. It was a smarter apron
than usual, and she was proud of it; and, as you see, she put it to good
use--to hide her blushes.
The two young couples will set up house-keeping on the day they return
from their honey-moon tour. The houses are taken, and Aunt Leth will be
very busy while they are away setting everything in order for her dear
ones. Tom Barley will live with Phoebe and Fred as gardener--that is,
unless he and 'Melia Jane decide to set up a separate establishment of
their own. Tom is in a position to do this. He has received the five
hundred pounds offered as a reward for the recovery of the diamond
bracelet, and at least another five hundred subscribed by an admiring
public for his gallant conduct.
"How do you do, Mrs. Cornwall?" whispered Fanny to Phoebe.
"How do you do, Mrs. Garden?" whispered Phoebe to Fanny.
Then they stepped aside and kissed and embraced, with faces like an
April day--one of the brightest and most beautiful of April days.
Their last kisses, their last embraces, are for Aunt Leth. She stands at
the door gazing after the carriages with sweet and wistful eyes. And so
the young people commence their happy wedded life.
THE END
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