… “Choicest flowers, of every hue,
Spring forth where’er their fairy tread hath pass’d;
And magic gardens bloom around regions
Fitting for such loveliness! floating near
Music’s sweetness vibrates, with hov’ring odour,
Holding soft commune on the fields of air.”
In answer to all Fitz-Ullin’s arguments and entreaties for an early day,
Julia pleaded a due respect to her grandmother’s feelings. In compliment
to these it was decided that the wedding should not take place for three
months. But months flew past with the velocity of days, all nature
glowed with tints never seen before; every bird sang a sweeter song than
formerly; particularly a thrush which had its nest in a Portugal laurel,
just behind the shady seat to which the lovers strolled every evening.
The very climate was improved: it was never either too hot or too cold,
that is, in the opinion of Julia and Fitz-Ullin. The rest of the world,
we believe, found the changes of weather much such as they generally are
in this, by all but lovers, sadly abused climate of ours.
Previous to the expiration of the allotted three months, the Arandale
family arrived at Lodore, together with the Marquis and Marchioness of
H⸺, Lord and Lady Morven, shortly after, the Dowager Countess Fitz-Ullin,
and lastly, Colonel Beaumont, now the accepted lover of Frances.
The weddings of both the sisters were solemnized on the same day by Mr.
Jackson, in the same church in which he had baptized both, and pronounced
over the then unknown Edmund, that memorable benediction, with which he
bestowed on him the temporary appellation of Montgomery; a name under
which, as Mr. Jackson this day observed, our hero afterwards reaped
so many laurels, that to have laid it aside for any title but that of
Fitz-Ullin, would have been rather a resignation of glory, than an
acquisition of splendour.
Lord and Lady Fitz-Ullin set out immediately for the Craigs, whither
they were followed shortly by a large party of their friends. Even
Mrs. Montgomery, (who had resolved never again to leave Lodore House,)
sustained by the renovating influence of happiness, performed the
journey, and did not suffer from the exertion.
The Jews who had possession of the Oswald estates, were obliged to resign
them on the production of the title-deeds. Now, therefore, that every
one but Gotterimo himself had reaped the benefits of his honesty, it
was high time to think of rewarding him. Mrs. Smyth, by the liberality
of her mistress and the savings of her long servitude, was enabled to
give Alice a few hundreds. Lady Fitz-Ullin added a few more for her
jewel-box, not forgetting the parcel of old letters by which it was
accompanied. Lord Fitz-Ullin gave a suitable acknowledgement for the
title-deeds of his wife’s estate, the Craigs, not forgetting the long
lost happiness found in the bottom of the same old chest. And Lady
Oswald, most willingly, paid a handsome reward for the discovery of the
title-deeds of her son’s estates. Thus portioned, Alice was bestowed on
our worthy little friend, who carried her forthwith to London. We are
happy to add, that, from the credit which his upright mode of dealing
gained him, his establishment became, in the course of time, one of the
greatest in that great city.