Apart from her future husband, Monica was in a sportive mood, with
occasional fits of exhilaration which seemed rather unnatural. She had
declared to Mildred her intention of inviting Miss Nunn to the wedding,
and her mind was evidently set on carrying out this joke, as she
regarded it. When the desire was intimated by letter, Rhoda replied
with a civil refusal: she would be altogether out of place at such a
ceremony, but hoped that Monica would accept her heartiest good wishes.
Virginia was then dispatched to Queen's Road, and appealed so movingly
that the prophetess at length yielded. On hearing this Monica danced
with delight, and her companion in Rutland Street could not help
sharing her merriment.

The ceremony was performed at a church at Herne Hill. By an odd
arrangement--like everything else in the story of this pair, a result
of social and personal embarrassments--Monica's belongings, including
her apparel for the day, were previously dispatched to the bridegroom's
house, whither, in company with Virginia, the bride went early in the
morning. It was one of the quietest of weddings, but all ordinary
formalities were complied with, Widdowson having no independent views
on the subject. Present were Virginia (to give away the bride), Miss
Vesper (who looked decidedly odd in a pretty dress given her by
Monica), Rhoda Nunn (who appeared to advantage in a costume of quite
unexpected appropriateness), Mrs. Widdowson (an imposing figure,
evidently feeling that she had got into strange society), and, as
friend of the bridegroom, one Mr. Newdick, a musty and nervous City
clerk. Depression was manifest on every countenance, not excepting
Widdowson's; the man had such a stern, gloomy look, and held himself
with so much awkwardness, that he might have been imagined to stand
here on compulsion. For an hour before going to the church, Monica
cried and seemed unutterably doleful; she had not slept for two nights;
her face was ghastly. Virginia's gladness gave way just before the
company assembled, and she too shed many tears.

There was a breakfast, more dismal fooling than even this species of
fooling is wont to be. Mr. Newdick, trembling and bloodless, proposed
Monica's health; Widdowson, stern and dark as ever, gloomily responded;
and then, _that_ was happily over. By one o'clock the gathering began
to disperse. Monica drew Rhoda Nunn aside.

'It was very kind of you to come,' she whispered, with half a sob. 'It
all seems