that if he thought that he was to be among the brewing
tubs from morning till night he'd find he was mistaken. Mr. Annesley
threw a word or two of feeling into his speech, as is usual with the
father of the young lady, but nobody seemed to care much for that. Mr.
Crabtree was facetious with the ordinary wedding jests,--as might have
been expected, seeing that he had been present at every wedding in the
county for the last twenty years. The elderly ladies laughed
good-humoredly, and Mrs. Crabtree was heard to say that the whole
affair would have been very tame but that Mr. Crabtree had "carried it
all off." But, in truth, when Joe got up the fun of the day had
commenced, for Miss Thoroughbung, though she kept her chair, was able to
utter as many words as her nephew: "I'm sure I'm very much obliged to
you for what you've all been saying."

"So you ought, sir, for you have heard more good of yourself than you'll
ever hear again."

"Then I'm the more obliged to you. What my people have said about my
being so long upon the road--"

"That's only just what you have told them at the brewery. Nobody knows
where you have been."

"Molly can tell you all about that."

"I can't tell them anything," Molly said in a whisper.

"But it comes only once in a man's lifetime," continued Joe; "and I dare
say, if we knew all about the governor when he was of my age, which I
don't remember, he was as spooney as any one."

"I only saw him once for six months before he was married," said Mrs.
Thoroughbung in a funereal voice.

"He's made up for it since," said Miss Thoroughbung.

"I'm sure I'm very proud to have got such a young lady to have come and
joined her lot with mine," continued Joe; "and nobody can think more
about his wife's family than I do."

"And all Buston," said the aunt.

"Yes, and all Buston."

"I'm sure we're all sorry that the bride's uncle, from Buston Hall, has
not been able to come here to-day. You ought to say that, Joe."

"Yes, I do say it. I'm very sorry that Mr. Prosper isn't able to be
here."

"Perhaps Miss Thoroughbung can tell us something about him?" said Mr.
Crabtree.

"Me! I know nothing special. When I saw him last he was in good health.
I did nothing to him to make him keep his bed. Mrs. Crabtree seems to
think that I have got your uncle in my keeping. Molly, I beg to say that
I'm not responsible."

It must be allowed that amid such free conversation it was difficult for
Joe to shine as an