in the church porch.

"That will be never!" exclaimed Rorie, looking ineffably happy, but not
very much like a bride-groom, in his comfortable gray suit. "You might
just as well say that we are going to live among the mountains as long
as Rip Van Winkle. No, Mrs. Scobel, we are not going to remain away
from you fifty years. We are coming back in time for the hunting."

Then came kissing and handshaking, a shower of violets and primroses
upon the narrow churchyard path, a hearty huzza from the assembled
village, all clustered about the oaken gate-posts. The envious
carriage-door shut in bride and bride-groom, the coachman touched his
horses, and they were gone up the hill, out of the peaceful valley, to
Lyndhurst and the railway.

"How dreadfully I shall miss them," said Mrs. Scobel, who had spent
much of her leisure with the lovers. "They are both so full of life and
brightness!"

"They are young and happy!" said her husband quietly. "Who would not
miss youth and happiness?"

When the first frosts had seared the beeches to a fiery red, and the
berries were bright on the hawthorns, and the latest bloom of the
heather had faded on hill and plain, and the happy pigs had devoured
all the beech-nuts, Mr. Vawdrey and his wife came back from their
exploration of Alpine snows and peaceful Swiss villages, to the good
old Abbey House. Their six months' honeymoon had been all gladness.
They were the veriest boy and girl husband and wife who had ever
trodden those beaten tracks. They teased each other, and quarrelled,
and made friends again like children, and were altogether happy. And
now they came back to the Forest, bronzed by many a long day's
sunshine, and glowing with health and high spirits. The glass of Time
seemed to be turned backwards at the Abbey House; for all the old
servants came back, and white-haired old Bates ruled in the well-filled
stables, and all things were as in the dead and gone Squire's time.

Among Roderick's wedding gifts was one from Lord Mallow: Bullfinch, the
best horse in that nobleman's stable.

"I know your wife would like you to have her father's favourite
hunter," wrote Lord Mallow. "Tell her that he has never been sick or
sorry since he has been in my stable, and that I have always taken
particular care of him, for her sake."

Among Violet's presents was a diamond bracelet from Lady Mallow,
accompanied by a very cordial letter; and almost the first visit that
the Vawdreys receive