O breathe those vows all hopefully,
A blessing from above
Is resting on the sacred bond
Of hallowed human love.
CULVER ALLEN.
"As soon as you have prepared your drawings for the new church, we shall
be glad to see them," said Hargrave, to young Clifford, as he took up
the reins, and drove off from the rectory with Mr. Ware, and his nephew.
There was such a magic in that simple pronoun, 'we,' that he could not
forget it long after it had passed his lips, leaving the young architect
to indulge a long day dream on his kindness, which was to end in the
happiness of one other patient young being, long plighted to his
uncertain fortunes. Hargrave had, indeed, been determined to be lavish
of the blessings which he had, himself, so bounteously received, and
already reaped the fruits of well-doing in the pleasure it gave him.
Before evening they reached Bath, where the good rector was received
with unaffected delight by Mabel, and with much timid apprehension by
his nephew's intended bride, who was, however, soon reassured by the
kindness of his manner.
In the midst of all this busy happiness, Caroline and Maria continued to
make themselves often remembered, and poor Mabel had to endure very much
at their hands, and to experience so many complicated annoyances, that
she looked to her marriage as to a haven of rest. She had received from
Mr. Ware the box of plate, of which he had the charge, and presented it
to her aunt, and, so far, had discharged all duty to her: but, though
she had been cruelly injured, she could not help sincerely pitying her,
since so much painful dissension had sprung up between her and her
daughters; at the same time, that she must deeply feel the
disappointment of all her schemes.
But time hurried on till the first of June, which had been fixed for the
double marriages, and on that morning the bells of the venerable Abbey
startled the passers by with such a merry peal, as left little doubt of
their import. It really would be difficult to calculate the exact
quantity of Macassar oil and scents, which were expended in the two
hours which Miss Lovelace spent at her toilet, on the occasion; but,
certainly, her ringlets were in the very best order, when she arrived in
Sydney Place, and the pink silk dress which had been presented to her,
with its numberless tiny flounces, from her very waist to the ground,
became her exceedingly. Unfortunately, the party was, she found, very
deficient in beaux--but, as scandal was to her, almost as rich a source
of amusement as flirtation; she contented herself by keeping her eyes
open, and noting down facts in her memory with wonderful precision;
subject, indeed, to a coloring of her own, with which she always
heightened events in narration much in the same way as that in which the
lights and shadows of a highly finished picture often far exceed those
of reality.
She proved herself, indeed, a most useful bridesmaid, for Selina, who
alone would consent to appear at church, required quite as much
attendance as the brides, and, in this way, she learnt a great many
secrets that morning, which were afterwards circulated no one could
imagine how. In her readiness to do any thing for "dear Miss Lesly," she
found out that she had all this time been sleeping in the servants'
attic, and in a room not even so well furnished as theirs; and she drew
a strong contrast between its humble appearance, and the beautiful pearl
bracelet which she fastened round her wrist--bearing testimony, in her
own mind, to the rare beauty which, on the morrow, she piqued half her
friends, by describing in the most glowing colors--because she alone had
been present to see how lovely Mabel had looked in her simple bridal
attire, standing in all the modest dignity of her nature, in that small,
mean, garret chamber.
Then, as she stepped into the carriage, which was to take her to church,
attended by the eccentric Mr. Morley, she noted, from the window, the
exact degree of emotion shewn by the two brides as they left the house,
Lucy being supported by Mr. Villars--nor were the liveries and horses,
belonging to the fashionable equipage which lingered near the church
door, forgotten, or the more modest looking one, which stood near it,
and had been hired by Clare, for the occasion. Lightly did she trip up
the aisle, and take her place, casting a pretty glance round her, which
told her, at once, that a venerable man, with hair of silvery whiteness
waited for them, by the altar, and that Hargrave and Clair, with their
own chosen friends, were standing by, looking very handsome, indeed, but
much more serious than she thought necessary; still, it became them very
well, and made them look more interesting--she did not take time to
consider the touching solemnity of the ceremony she was come to assist
in, or to read in Hargrave's earnest manner the steadfast resolutions,
which were never broken, of loving, and protecting, and confiding in
that fair being, whose light step soon trod the silent aisle, and
brought her, in all her trusting affection, to his side--in all the
purity of untainted womanhood, to plight her single-hearted faith to
him, and, without a doubt, to place the happiness of a life-time in his
keeping.
How peacefully upon his wearied heart fell the blessing which was
pronounced with trembling lips, and how proudly he led her away when all
was over, and whispered--
"Nothing can part us now, love."
And how happy Arthur Clare looked as he led the blushing Lucy to the
carriage, trembling as she was, so much, that he was almost obliged to
lift her in. But Miss Lovelace's powers of observation were still
further called into action, when she reached Sydney Place again; she
could scarcely believe her own eyes, indeed, as she afterwards affirmed,
when she met Caroline and Maria, for the first time, and found them
wearing old silk dresses, rather more faded than those they usually wore
of a morning. The pink silk flounces, and the glossy and well arranged
ringlets suffered a simultaneous shock--nor could she resist, slightly
raising her eyes as they encountered those of Hargrave, who, she
instantly noticed, remarked the intended slight.
She saw, too, that Caroline did not even make a shew of congratulation;
indeed, so many other instances could be observed of the intentional
neglect of the refinements of a marriage festival, even of the simplest
kind, that she did not wonder that Hargrave seemed impatient to be gone,
and that, when he had secured the hand of his fair bride he should hurry
her into the carriage and seat himself beside her, with a look of
indescribable relief, as they drove rapidly away--leaving Lucy and her
husband to a more prolonged leave taking.
Miss Lovelace, finding that with the departure of the wedding party, her
services were deemed concluded, only remained to take a peep at the
disappointed family circle before she departed.
She was not slow in divining the state of things amongst them, and Mrs.
Villars's altered looks betrayed much of the annoyances she suffered.
Indeed, as she afterwards remarked, in giving an account of the wedding,
poor Mrs. Villars aged very fast, and as for Caroline and Maria, she had
never seen girls expose themselves as they had done; she was sure,
indeed, after the way in which they had treated the lovely Mrs.
Hargrave, they had lost their chance of settling, if, indeed, they ever
had any. As for herself, she said that she had determined to have
nothing more to do with them, for that handsome Colonel Hargrave was
better than the whole family put together.
To such heartless scandal, we must leave Mrs. Villars and her daughters;
but reluctantly, most reluctantly, for we feel that they were intended
for something better.