Having accepted the invitation to come with the minister’s family to
the wedding, we stopped and took tea at the manse with the Reverend
Doctor and Mrs. Denholm,--the young ladies and their brother having
joined the procession. For all our days we have been naturally of a
most sedate turn of mind; and although then but in our twenty-third
year, we preferred the temperate good humour of the Doctor’s
conversation, and the householdry topics of his wife, to the boisterous
blair of the bagpipes. As soon, however, as tea was over, with Mrs.
Denholm dressed in her best, and the pastor in his newest suit, we
proceeded towards Grippy.
By this time the sun was set, but the speckless topaz of the western
skies diffused a golden twilight, that tinged every object with a
pleasing mellow softness. Like the wedding-ring of a bashful bride, the
new moon just showed her silver rim, and the evening star was kindling
her lamp, as we approached the foot of the avenue which led to the
house, the windows of which sparkled with festivity; while from the
barn the merry yelps of two delighted fiddles, and the good-humoured
grumbling of a well-pleased bass, mingling with laughter and squeaks,
and the thudding of bounding feet, made every pulse in our young blood
circle as briskly as the dancers in their reeling.
When we reached the door, the moment that the venerable minister made
his appearance, the music stopped, and the dancing was suspended, by
which we were enabled to survey the assembly for a few minutes, in
its most composed and ceremonious form. At the upper end of the barn
stood two arm-chairs, one of which, appropriated to the bridegroom, was
empty; in the other sat the bride, panting from the vigorous efforts
she had made in the reel that was interrupted by our entrance. The
bridegroom himself was standing near a table close to the musicians,
stirring a large punch-bowl, and filling from time to time the glasses.
His father sat in a corner by himself, with his hands leaning on his
staff, and his lips firmly drawn together, contemplating the scene
before him with a sharp but thoughtful eye. Old Kilmarkeckle, with
an ivory snuff-box, mounted with gold, in his hand, was sitting with
Mr. Keelevin on the left hand of Claud, evidently explaining some
remarkable property in the flavour of the snuff, to which the honest
lawyer was paying the utmost attention, looking at the philosophical
Laird, however, every now and then, with a countenance at once
expressive of admiration, curiosity, and laughter. Leddy Grippy sat on
the left of the bride, apparelled in a crimson satin gown, made for the
occasion, with a stupendous fabric of gauze and catgut, adorned with
vast convolutions of broad red ribbons for a head-dress, and a costly
French shawl, primly pinned open, to show her embroidered stomacher. At
her side sat the meek and beautiful Isabella, like a primrose within
the shadow of a peony; and on Isabella’s left the aged Lady Plealands,
neatly dressed in white silk, with a close cap of black lace, black
silk mittens, and a rich black apron. But we must not attempt thus to
describe all the guests, who, to the number of nearly a hundred, young
and old, were seated in various groups around the sides of the barn;
for our attention was drawn to Milrookit, the Laird of Dirdumwhamle,
a hearty widower for the second time, about forty-five--he might be
older--who, cozily in a corner, was engaged in serious courtship with
Miss Meg.
When the formalities of respect, with which Doctor Denholm was so
properly received, had been duly performed, the bridegroom bade the
fiddlers again play up, and, going towards the minister, said, ‘Do ye
smell ony thing gude, Sir?’
‘No doubt, bridegroom,’ replied the Doctor, ‘I canna be insensible to
the pleasant savour of the supper.’
‘Come here, then,’ rejoined Watty, ‘and I’ll show you a sight would
do a hungry body good--weel I wat my mother has na spared her skill
and spice.’--In saying which, he lifted aside a carpet that had been
drawn across the barn like a curtain behind the seats at the upper end
of the ball-room, and showed him the supper table, on which about a
dozen men and maid-servants were in the act of piling joints and pies
that would have done credit to the Michaelmas dinner of the Glasgow
magistrates--‘Is na that a gallant banquet?’ said Watty. ‘Look at yon
braw pastry pie wi’ the King’s crown on’t.’
The Reverend Pastor declared that it was a very edificial structure,
and he had no doubt it was as good as it looked--‘Would ye like to
pree’t, Doctor? I’ll just nip off ane o’ the pearlies on the crown to
let you taste how good it is. It’ll never be missed.’
The bride, who overheard part of this dialogue, started up at these
words, and as Walter was in the act of stretching forth his hand to
plunder the crown, she pulled him by the coat-tail, and drew him into
the chair appropriated for him, sitting down, at the same time, in her
own on his left, saying, in an angry whisper,--‘Are ye fou’ already,
Watty Walkinshaw? If ye mudge out o’ that seat again this night, I’ll
mak you as sick o’ pies and puddings as ever a dog was o’ het kail.’
Nothing more particular happened before supper; and every thing went
off at the banquet as mirthfully as on any similar occasion. The
dancing was then resumed, and during the bustle and whirl of the reels,
the bride and bridegroom were conducted quietly to the house to be
bedded.
When they were undressed, but before the stocking was thrown, we got a
hint from Charles to look at the bridal chamber, and accordingly ran
with him to the house, and bolting into the room, beheld the happy
pair sitting up in bed, with white napkins drawn over their heads like
two shrouds, and each holding one of their hands, so as to conceal
entirely their modest and downcast faces. But, before we had time to
say a word, the minister, followed by the two pipers, and the best-men
and bridesmaids, bringing posset and cake, came in,--and while the
distribution, with the customary benedictions, was going forward,
dancing was recommenced in the bedroom.
How it happened, or what was the cause, we know not; but the dancing
continued so long, and was kept up with so much glee, that somehow,
by the crowded state of the apartment, the young pair in bed were
altogether forgotten, till the bridegroom, tired with sitting so long
like a mummy, lost all patience, and, in a voice of rage and thunder,
ordered every man and mother’s son instantly to quit the room,--a
command which he as vehemently repeated with a menace of immediate
punishment,--putting, at the same time, one of his legs out of bed, and
clenching his fist, in the act of rising. The bride cowered in giggling
beneath the coverlet, and all the other ladies, followed by the men and
the pipers, fled pell-mell, and hurly-burly, glad to make their escape.